IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you should have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Rocklin CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for 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 a number of Rocklin CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating 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 violations involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Rocklin CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Rocklin CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Rocklin CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Rocklin CA schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Rocklin CA home, you have 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Rocklin CA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.