IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Signal Hill CA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's important that you verify that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for many Signal Hill CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet 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 complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Signal Hill CA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through 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 way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Signal Hill CA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Signal Hill CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Signal Hill CA programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding 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 School Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Signal Hill CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with 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, especially if the school is located in or near a large 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 charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Signal Hill CA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.