IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Oxnard CA area and across the USA, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Oxnard CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips 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 grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Oxnard CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through 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 way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Oxnard CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy 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 program has an exceptional reputation within the Oxnard CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Oxnard CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Oxnard CA home, you must confirm 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, particularly if the school is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend 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. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Oxnard CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.