Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Brookfield WI

How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Brookfield Wisconsin

Brookfield WI vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Brookfield WI may initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. After they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when comparing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Brookfield WI

cat with cone after surgery in Brookfield WI One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can perform within the Brookfield WI veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and usually obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist 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 licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists can 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 Brookfield WI laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Brookfield

student attending online vet tech school in Brookfield WI An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Brookfield 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 example for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain 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 furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Brookfield WI Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Brookfield WI vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Brookfield WI area and across the Country, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for many Brookfield WI area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Brookfield WI veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Brookfield WI veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college 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 indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Brookfield WI veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Brookfield WI colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding 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 School Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Brookfield 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 larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Brookfield WI. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Brookfield WI?

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

Brookfield, Wisconsin

Brookfield is located west of Milwaukee in Waukesha County in an area originally inhabited by Potawatomi Indians. The first known white settler was Robert Curren who built the first log cabin in 1836. Farms dominated the landscape into the mid-20th century.[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 27.59 square miles (71.46 km2), of which 27.09 square miles (70.16 km2) is land and 0.50 square miles (1.29 km2) is water.[2] The sub-continental divide passes through Brookfield; on the eastern side of this divide, easily marked by the crest at Calhoun Road and Capitol Drive, water flows to Lake Michigan on its way to the Gulf of Saint Lawrence; on the western side of this divide, water flows to the Fox River of Illinois and Wisconsin on its way to the Mississippi River and the Gulf of Mexico.

As of the census[3] of 2010, there were 37,920 people, 14,576 households, and 10,999 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,399.8 inhabitants per square mile (540.5/km2). There were 15,317 housing units at an average density of 565.4 per square mile (218.3/km2). The racial makeup of the city was 90.0% White, 1.2% African American, 0.2% Native American, 6.7% Asian, 0.5% from other races, and 1.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population.

Choose the Best Vet Tech School near Brookfield WI

Brookfield WI vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices 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 Brookfield WI.