IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Santa Rosa CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Santa Rosa CA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations 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 pointer, get in touch with some Santa Rosa CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Santa Rosa CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate could indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy 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 mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Santa Rosa CA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Santa Rosa CA programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning 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 Campus Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Santa Rosa CA home, you need to make certain that the driving 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 near or in a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you determine if the vet colleges you are considering 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 in the evenings near Santa Rosa CA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.