IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Lafayette CO area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many Lafayette CO area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Colorado school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Lafayette CO vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Lafayette CO veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Lafayette CO veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lafayette CO colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding 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? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Lafayette CO home, you have to make certain that the commuting 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 campus is located in or close by a larger 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 especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's essential that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Lafayette CO. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.