IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Programs
By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Whittier CA area and across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Whittier CA area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin 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 online school ranking websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations 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 pointer, get in touch with some Whittier CA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some schools 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. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Whittier CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Whittier CA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Whittier CA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Whittier CA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you find out if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Whittier CA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.