IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Santa Cruz CA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 thorough screening process that confirms 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Santa Cruz CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Santa Cruz CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Santa Cruz CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can 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 low rate may indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Santa Cruz CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Santa Cruz CA colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students concerning 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 Campus Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Santa Cruz CA home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school 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 increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Santa Cruz CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You might find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.