IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Veterinary Technician Schools
At this point you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Portage WI area as well as across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.
Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It's imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for many Portage WI area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on 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 infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Portage WI vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Portage WI veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate could signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy 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 higher placement rate might mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Portage WI veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.
How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Portage WI programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously talked about 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 Portage 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, particularly if the school is located in or near a large 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 increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's essential that you determine if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Portage WI. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.