IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Programs
By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Appleton WI area and across the United States, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Appleton WI area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Appleton WI veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Appleton WI veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide 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 vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Appleton WI veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Appleton WI programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Appleton WI home, you need to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Appleton WI. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.