IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
At this point you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Novato CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Novato CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and speaking 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 tip, contact some Novato CA veterinary clinics that you may wish 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 Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Novato CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Novato CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Novato CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Novato CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's essential that you find out if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Novato CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.