IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you should have selected which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Glendale WI area as well as across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you choose 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 undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for many Glendale WI area vet practices and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Glendale WI vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Glendale WI veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Glendale WI veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Glendale WI schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Glendale WI home, you must make sure 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, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Glendale 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 before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.