IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Shadow Hills CA area and across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, 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 thorough 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 numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Shadow Hills CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Shadow Hills CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. 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 medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Shadow Hills CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Shadow Hills CA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well 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 in size, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Shadow Hills CA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously talked about 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 Shadow Hills CA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending 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 finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Shadow Hills CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.