IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Vet Tech Colleges
At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Platteville WI area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's important that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for many Platteville WI area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.
What is the School's Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet 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 infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Platteville WI veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Platteville WI veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed 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 signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Platteville WI veterinary community and has a substantial 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 Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Platteville WI schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Platteville WI home, you must confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won't be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.
Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it's imperative that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Platteville WI. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.