Veterinary Technician School
How to Choose the Best One Near La Crosse Wisconsin

Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near La Crosse WI might initially seem like a challenging undertaking. But in order to succeed as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and finally enroll in a program that will provide the required education and training. And so that you pick the right one you must evaluate and compare each of the schools you are considering. When looking for vet tech schools, many potential students start by targeting those that are closest to their homes. After they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when assessing vet tech schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll go over the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW

Vet Tech Training Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can perform within the La Crosse WI veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  La Crosse WI labs or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered

An option that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local La Crosse WI veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for travel and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the La Crosse WI area and across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It's essential that you make sure that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that confirms 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 obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for many La Crosse WI area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The vet college or vocational school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some La Crosse WI vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with La Crosse WI veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school 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 reviewing. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the La Crosse WI veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement 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 La Crosse WI colleges you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students concerning 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 College Located?  Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your La Crosse WI home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it's essential that you find out if the vet colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near La Crosse WI. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Learn More About How to Become a Vet Technician in La Crosse

Enroll in the Right La Crosse Vet Technologist School

Choosing the ideal veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech programs must make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in La Crosse Wisconsin.

 

La Crosse Veterinary Technician Schools | La Crosse Online Vet Tech Programs