IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the San Rafael CA area and across the USA, you must ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of 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 rigorous review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for many San Rafael CA area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating 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 pointer, phone some San Rafael CA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with San Rafael CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate could suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the San Rafael CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the San Rafael CA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your San Rafael CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with 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 close by 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 increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's imperative that you determine 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 Rafael CA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.