IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Denver CO area and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening 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 available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Denver CO area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Colorado school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Denver CO veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Denver CO veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Denver CO veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Denver CO colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Denver CO home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with 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 in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Denver CO. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.