IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Richmond CA area and across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.
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 organization. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Richmond CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies 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 tip, get in touch with some Richmond CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get clinical 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 set up with Richmond CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Richmond CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Richmond CA colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Richmond CA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Richmond CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.