IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Rohnert Park CA area and across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's important that you make sure that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Rohnert Park CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations 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 recommendation, call some Rohnert Park CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Rohnert Park CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Rohnert Park CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Rohnert Park CA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students concerning 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 College Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Rohnert Park CA home, you have to make sure that the driving time fits into 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, especially if the campus is located in or close by a larger 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 fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Rohnert Park CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.