IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Sherrelwood CO area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you select 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 gone through a rigorous screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Sherrelwood CO area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Colorado school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Sherrelwood CO veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Sherrelwood CO veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Sherrelwood CO vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Sherrelwood CO colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Sherrelwood CO home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or close by 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 charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough 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 Sherrelwood CO. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.