IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Hartford WI area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It's essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for a number of Hartford WI area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online 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 relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Hartford WI vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Hartford WI veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed 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 could indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Hartford WI veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well 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 most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Hartford WI programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Hartford WI home, you have to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose 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 may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Hartford WI. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.