IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Napa CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for many Napa CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Napa CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Napa CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Napa CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Napa CA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Napa CA home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Napa CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.