IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Jacinto CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose 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 vet tech colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of San Jacinto CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting 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, contact some San Jacinto CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with San Jacinto 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 invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the San Jacinto CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the San Jacinto CA programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds 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 consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your San Jacinto CA home, you must make sure 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, especially if the campus is located near or in a larger city. In addition, 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 charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near San Jacinto CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.