Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Clear Lake WI

How to Pick a Vet Tech Program near Clear Lake Wisconsin

Clear Lake WI vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Clear Lake WI may at first seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. After they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Clear Lake WI

cat with cone after surgery in Clear Lake WI Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Clear Lake WI veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Clear Lake WI laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Clear Lake

student attending online vet tech school in Clear Lake WI An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Clear Lake WI veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you choose 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 comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Clear Lake WI Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Clear Lake WI vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Clear Lake WI area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 gone through an extensive review process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for many Clear Lake WI area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with 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 specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Clear Lake WI veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Clear Lake WI veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Clear Lake WI veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Clear Lake WI programs you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Clear Lake WI home, you have to make sure that the driving 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 college is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating 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 Clear Lake WI. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Clear Lake WI?

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

Clear Lake, Wisconsin

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.02 square miles (7.82 km2), of which, 2.94 square miles (7.61 km2) of it is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km2) is water.[1]

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 1,070 people, 459 households, and 282 families residing in the village. The population density was 363.9 inhabitants per square mile (140.5/km2). There were 502 housing units at an average density of 170.7 per square mile (65.9/km2). The racial makeup of the village was 97.4% White, 0.1% Native American, 0.2% Asian, 0.9% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.8% of the population.

There were 459 households of which 30.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.7% were married couples living together, 13.1% had a female householder with no husband present, 5.7% had a male householder with no wife present, and 38.6% were non-families. 33.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.32 and the average family size was 2.94.

Select the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Clear Lake WI

Clear Lake WI vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Clear Lake WI.