IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the San Bruno CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for many San Bruno CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some San Bruno CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with San Bruno CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the San Bruno CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Bruno CA programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of 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 teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Bruno CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near San Bruno CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.