Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Land O Lakes WI

How to Choose a Vet Tech Program near Land O Lakes Wisconsin

Land O Lakes WI vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Land O Lakes WI might at first seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have identified some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Land O Lakes WI

cat with cone after surgery in Land O Lakes WI One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can perform within the Land O Lakes WI veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. Therefore the main distinction 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 potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Land O Lakes

student attending online vet tech school in Land O Lakes WI An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Land O Lakes WI veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Land O Lakes WI Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Land O Lakes WI vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Land O Lakes WI area as well as across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, 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 an extensive review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Land O Lakes WI area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Land O Lakes WI veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Land O Lakes WI veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Land O Lakes WI vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Land O Lakes WI schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already talked about 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 Land O Lakes WI home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a large 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 higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Land O Lakes WI. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Land O Lakes WI?

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

Land O' Lakes, Wisconsin

The Town of Land o' Lakes is located in north-central Vilas County along the border with the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. The headwaters of a branch of the Ontonagon River is located in the town at the Cisco Chain of lakes, and the upper part of the Wisconsin River flows through the town, with the headwaters being located just to the east at Lac Vieux Desert. According to the United States Census Bureau, the town has a total area of 95.3 square miles (246.9 km²) of which 83.1 square miles (215.2 km²) is land and 12.2 square miles (31.7 km²) (12.83%) is water. The town is very long and narrow, with the town center, government offices, and most services located in the unincorporated community of Land o' Lakes at the far eastern end of the town.

At the 2010 census,[2] there were 861 people, 433 households and 264 families residing in the town. The population density was 10.6 per square mile (4.1/km²). There were 1,337 housing units at an average density of 16.1 per square mile (6.2/km²). The racial makeup of the town was 98.41% White, 0.68% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.45% from other races, and 0.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.45% of the population.

There were 433 households of which 14.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.5% were married couples living together, 5.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 43.6% were non-families. 37.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 16.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 1.99 and the average family size was 2.57.

Select the Ideal Vet Tech School near Land O Lakes WI

Land O Lakes WI vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Land O Lakes WI.