IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Clifton CO area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's essential that you verify that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Clifton CO area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Colorado school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Clifton CO vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Clifton CO veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Clifton CO veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Clifton CO schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Clifton CO home, you have to make certain that the commuting 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, especially if the college is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's essential that you determine if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible 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 Clifton CO. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.