IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Englewood CO area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Englewood CO area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Colorado school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Englewood CO veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Englewood CO veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Englewood CO vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective 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 Englewood CO programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Englewood CO home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a large 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 charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Englewood CO. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.