IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the San Clemente CA area and across the USA, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many San Clemente CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some San Clemente CA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with San Clemente CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the San Clemente CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly 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 get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the San Clemente CA schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your San Clemente CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near San Clemente CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.