IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Programs
At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you prefer 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 South San Francisco CA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's important that you verify that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many South San Francisco CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some South San Francisco CA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with South San Francisco CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the South San Francisco CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded 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 most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the South San Francisco CA schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your South San Francisco CA home, you must make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do choose 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. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's imperative that you find out if the vet schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near South San Francisco CA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.