Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Burlington WI

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Burlington Wisconsin

Burlington WI vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Burlington WI may initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the proper selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. After they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Burlington WI

cat with cone after surgery in Burlington WI One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Burlington WI veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Burlington WI labs or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Burlington

student attending online vet tech school in Burlington WI An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Burlington WI veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for travel and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Burlington WI Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Burlington WI vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Burlington WI area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected 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 confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for many Burlington WI area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Burlington WI veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Burlington WI veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Burlington WI veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Burlington WI schools you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Burlington WI home, you need to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Burlington WI. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Burlington WI?

If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Burlington Wisconsin area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.

Burlington, Wisconsin

Burlington is a city in Racine and Walworth counties in the U.S. state of Wisconsin,[4] with the majority of the city located in Racine County.[5] The population of the portion of the city inside Racine County was 10,464 as of the 2010 census.

Prior to the arrival of Europeans in the area, Native American mounds were constructed near the present location of Burlington. For example, around 1830, a small Potawatomi village stood in what is now the Town of Burlington,[6] though it wasn't larger than the present-day city.

The earliest certain European presence in what is now Burlington was in the fall of 1799, when a group of French explorers and missionaries led by Francis Morgan de Vereceones made a portage from the Root River to the Fox River, reaching the Fox at approximately Burlington's present location.[7]

Enroll in the Right Vet Tech College near Burlington WI

Burlington WI vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech colleges must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Burlington WI.