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 decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Stockton CA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for many Stockton CA area vet clinics 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 community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations 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 tip, call some Stockton CA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Stockton CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Stockton CA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Stockton CA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Stockton CA home, you must make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Stockton CA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.