IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Schools
At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Brookfield WI area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Brookfield WI area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. 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 tips include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Brookfield WI veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Brookfield WI veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Brookfield WI veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might 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 in size, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Brookfield WI schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Brookfield WI home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into 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 campus is located near or in a larger 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 higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Brookfield WI. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.