IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs
At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Frederick CO area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's important that you verify that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Frederick CO area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Colorado school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Frederick CO veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Frederick CO veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Frederick CO veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly 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 in size, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Frederick CO colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Frederick CO home, you need to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's important that you determine if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate 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 Frederick CO. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.