IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Woodland Hills CA area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should 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 school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for many Woodland Hills CA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the California school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Woodland Hills CA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Woodland Hills CA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Woodland Hills CA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Woodland Hills CA colleges you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Okay, we already 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 Woodland Hills CA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within 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 higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you find out if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Woodland Hills CA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.