IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you should have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Berkley CO area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions in order to 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 already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for many Berkley CO area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Colorado school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Berkley CO vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Berkley CO veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate may signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Berkley CO veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify 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 most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Berkley CO schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously covered 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 Berkley CO home, you need to confirm 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, especially if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinary schools you are evaluating 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 Berkley CO. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.