IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the North Hollywood CA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of North Hollywood CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on 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 complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some North Hollywood CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with North Hollywood CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the North Hollywood CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the North Hollywood CA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your North Hollywood CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting 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 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 charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near North Hollywood 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 might miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.