IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Programs
By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Red Bluff CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech program you select 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for many Red Bluff CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Red Bluff CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Red Bluff CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of 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 high placement rate might signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Red Bluff CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Red Bluff CA colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Red Bluff CA home, you must make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school 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 taking classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you ascertain if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Red Bluff CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.