Vet Technician College
How to Find the Best One Near La Crosse Wisconsin

Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near La Crosse WI could initially seem like a daunting undertaking. But to be successful as a working veterinary technician, you need to first locate and ultimately enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training and education. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct selection? When checking out vet tech schools, many potential students start by targeting those that are nearest to their homes. Once they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Job placement and intership programs as well as accreditation are equally important if not more so as cost and location. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make a final selection. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll explore the varied duties of vet techs and the training options available.

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

Vet Tech Education Options

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can carry out within the La Crosse WI veterinary practice or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let's take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and usually obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Things to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like 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, technical and vocational schools in the La Crosse WI area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It's important that you confirm that the veterinary technician program 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of La Crosse WI area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some La Crosse WI veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools 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. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with La Crosse WI veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the La Crosse WI vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the La Crosse WI schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend 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 teachers and find out 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 few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your La Crosse WI home, you need to confirm 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, especially if the campus is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near La Crosse WI. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technologist in La Crosse

Enroll in the Right La Crosse Veterinary Technologist College

Enrolling in the ideal vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it's essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in La Crosse Wisconsin.

 

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