Veterinary Technician Degree
How to Pick the Right One Near Sun Prairie Wisconsin

Finding a veterinary technician school near Sun Prairie WI to fulfill your lifelong goal to help and care for our pets may from the start seem like an overwhelming task. But to be successful as a practicing veterinary technician, you must first locate and ultimately enroll in a program that will provide the necessary education and training. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. After they have located some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we'll discuss the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW

Vet Technician Education Options

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Sun Prairie WI veterinary clinic or hospital, they can't prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let's take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor's Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist's more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Sun Prairie WI labs or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered

An option that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Sun Prairie WI veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for commuting and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Sun Prairie WI area as well as across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It's essential that you confirm that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Sun Prairie WI area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School's Reputation?  The veterinary college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school's accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Sun Prairie WI veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Sun Prairie WI veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may 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 considering. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Sun Prairie WI vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Sun Prairie WI schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to 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 previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Sun Prairie WI home, you must make sure 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide 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, attending online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it's important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Sun Prairie WI. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Find Out More About Becoming a Vet Technician in Sun Prairie

Enroll in the Right Sun Prairie Veterinary Technologist College

Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it's imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Sun Prairie Wisconsin.

 

Sun Prairie Vet Tech Schools | Sun Prairie Vet Tech Schools Online