IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Vacaville CA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Vacaville CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Vacaville CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Vacaville CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Vacaville CA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Vacaville CA schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Vacaville CA home, you have to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college 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 taking classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's imperative that you find out if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Vacaville CA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm 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 discover that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.