IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Redwood City CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, 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 an extensive screening process that ensures you will get a quality 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 programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Redwood City CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Redwood City CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Redwood City CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate could signify 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 schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Redwood City CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate 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, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Redwood City CA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Redwood City CA home, you need to 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, particularly if the college is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Redwood City CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.