IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have selected which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Redding CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a school 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 veterinary technician programs that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, 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 review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Redding CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Redding CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Redding CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Redding CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Redding CA schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Redding CA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Redding CA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.