IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Schools
By now you should have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Pomona CA area and across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's important that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Pomona CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Pomona CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Pomona CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied 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 higher placement rate might indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Pomona CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Pomona CA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning 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? Of course, we already covered 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 Pomona CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a large 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 higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Pomona CA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your active life.