IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Cudahy WI area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, 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 an extensive screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Cudahy WI area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers 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 Cudahy WI veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more schools 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 professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Cudahy WI veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Cudahy WI vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Cudahy WI programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the School Located? Of course, we previously discussed 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 Cudahy WI home, you need to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend 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 attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's important that you ascertain 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 at night near Cudahy WI. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.