IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the San Jose CA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many San Jose CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some San Jose CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with San Jose CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the San Jose CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the San Jose CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your San Jose 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 school is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near San Jose CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.