IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Valencia CA area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Valencia CA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Valencia CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Valencia CA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish 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 can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Valencia CA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Valencia CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Valencia CA home, you need to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you find out if the vet schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Valencia CA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your active life.