IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
By now you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Salinas CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future 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 of course you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Salinas CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips 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 complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Salinas CA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Salinas CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Salinas CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Salinas CA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning 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 College Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Salinas CA home, you need to confirm that the driving 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, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Salinas CA. Some may only be able to go to class 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 as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.