IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have selected 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 a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Sierra Madre CA area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Sierra Madre CA area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. 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 checking with online school ranking websites and contacting 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 recommendation, phone some Sierra Madre CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some 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 medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Sierra Madre CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of 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 could mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Sierra Madre CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Sierra Madre CA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Sierra Madre CA home, you have to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Sierra Madre CA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.