IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools
At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Morgan Hill CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Morgan Hill CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Morgan Hill CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Morgan Hill CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Morgan Hill CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Morgan Hill CA colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Morgan Hill CA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Morgan Hill CA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.