IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer 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 Parker CO area and across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, 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 an extensive screening process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Parker CO area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on 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 grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Parker CO vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Parker CO veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate could mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Parker CO veterinary community and has a significant 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 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. Request from the Parker CO schools you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Parker CO home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with 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 large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's important that you find out if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Parker CO. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.