IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree 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 vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Redlands CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier 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 gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Redlands CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Redlands CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Redlands CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Redlands CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Redlands CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Redlands CA home, you need 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, particularly if the school is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's essential that you find out if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Redlands CA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.