IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Aurora CO area and across the USA, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Aurora CO area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Colorado school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Aurora CO veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Aurora CO veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial 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 position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate could indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Aurora CO vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement 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. Solicit from the Aurora CO colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Aurora CO home, you must make sure 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 near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Aurora CO. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later 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 due to work, illness or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.