IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
What to Ask Veterinary Technician Colleges
At this point you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Stevens Point WI area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.
Is the Vet College Accredited? It's imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Stevens Point WI area veterinary practices and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Stevens Point WI vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Stevens Point WI veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Stevens Point WI veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Stevens Point WI schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Stevens Point WI home, you need to 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Stevens Point WI. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.