IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Palo Alto CA area and across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 thorough review process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Palo Alto CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Palo Alto CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Palo Alto CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Palo Alto CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not well 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 in size, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Palo Alto CA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers 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 several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Palo Alto CA home, you need to make certain that the driving 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 college is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Palo Alto 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 offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.