IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Pacific Grove CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty 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 programs that you are considering.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, 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 obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Pacific Grove CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations 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 recommendation, phone some Pacific Grove 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 may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Pacific Grove CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Provided? 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 considering. A low rate might signify 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 find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Pacific Grove CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Pacific Grove CA programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Pacific Grove CA home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Pacific Grove CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.