IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Vet Tech Schools
By now you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the San Ramon CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded 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 verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of San Ramon CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online 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 concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some San Ramon CA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with San Ramon CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the San Ramon CA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the San Ramon CA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your San Ramon CA home, you must confirm that the commuting 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, particularly if the school is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near San Ramon CA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.