IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Silver Lake CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough 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 colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Silver Lake CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Silver Lake CA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way 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 set up with Silver Lake CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate could indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Silver Lake CA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean 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 bigger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Silver Lake CA programs you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Silver Lake CA home, you have to make sure 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 commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Silver Lake CA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.