IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Vet Tech Programs
At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Eau Claire WI area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty 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 schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Eau Claire WI area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Eau Claire WI veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Eau Claire 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 as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the Eau Claire WI veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Eau Claire WI colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Eau Claire WI home, you must make sure 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, particularly if the school is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Eau Claire WI. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.