IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the La Crosse 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 potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.
Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It's important that you confirm that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of 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 rigorous review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for many La Crosse WI area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking 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 infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some La Crosse WI vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with La Crosse WI veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the La Crosse WI veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the La Crosse WI programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning 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 Campus Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your La Crosse WI home, you must make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, 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 near a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near La Crosse WI. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.