IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Perris CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course 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 schools that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many Perris CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Perris CA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Perris CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges 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 quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Perris CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may 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. Find out from the Perris CA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to 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 already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Perris CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating 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 in the evenings near Perris CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.