IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Palm Springs CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Palm Springs CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Palm Springs CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Palm Springs CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Palm Springs CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Palm Springs CA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Palm Springs CA home, you need to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend 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. Of course attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Palm Springs CA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.