IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Schools
At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you want 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 San Anselmo CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of San Anselmo CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some San Anselmo 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 might even recommend one or more programs 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 professional environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with San Anselmo CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. 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 school has an outstanding reputation within the San Anselmo CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may 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 in size, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the San Anselmo CA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your San Anselmo CA home, you must confirm 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a larger 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 higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's essential that you find out if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near San Anselmo CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.