IT TAKES JUST A FEW MINUTES TO START YOUR VET TECH CAREER BELOW
Questions to Ask Vet Tech Programs
By now you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the West Allis WI area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It's imperative that you make sure that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among 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 thorough screening process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of West Allis WI area vet clinics and hospitals.
What is the College's Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school's accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some West Allis WI veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.
Are Internships Offered? The best means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with West Allis WI veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.
Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the West Allis WI vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the West Allis WI schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your West Allis WI home, you must make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won't be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, 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 community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.
Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it's imperative that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near West Allis WI. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.