IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree 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 veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Mequon WI area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet Program Accredited? It's essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Mequon WI area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Mequon WI vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Mequon WI veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is Job Assistance Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Mequon WI veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Mequon WI colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the School Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Mequon WI home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Mequon WI. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.