IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs
By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the National City CA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of National City CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing 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 authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some National City CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with National City CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical 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 establish relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the National City CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the National City CA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your National City CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near National City CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.