IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Little Chute WI area and across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose 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 vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet College 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, among 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 ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for a number of Little Chute WI area veterinarian practices and hospitals.
What is the Program's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and checking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Little Chute WI veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.
Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Little Chute WI veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Little Chute WI veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Little Chute WI programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Little Chute WI home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's important that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Little Chute WI. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.