Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Eau Claire WI

How to Find the Right Vet Tech Program near Eau Claire Wisconsin

Eau Claire WI vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Eau Claire WI might initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have located some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when assessing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the various duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Eau Claire WI

cat with cone after surgery in Eau Claire WI Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can perform within the Eau Claire WI veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. So 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 work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Eau Claire WI laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Eau Claire

student attending online vet tech school in Eau Claire WI An option that may be a solution 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. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple 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 completed as an internship or work study program at a local Eau Claire WI veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Eau Claire WI Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Eau Claire WI vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Eau Claire WI area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of 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 rigorous review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Eau Claire WI area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Eau Claire WI veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Eau Claire WI veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Eau Claire WI veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Eau Claire WI colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Eau Claire WI home, you have to make sure that the driving 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, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Eau Claire WI. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Eau Claire WI?

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

Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Eau Claire (/oʊˈklɛər/) is a city in Chippewa and Eau Claire counties in the west-central part of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. Located almost entirely in Eau Claire County, for which it is the county seat,[8] the city had a population of 65,883 at the 2010 census,[9] making it the state's ninth-largest city. Eau Claire is the principal city of the Eau Claire, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is a part of the Eau Claire-Menomonie Combined Statistical Area.

Eau Claire took its name from Eau Claire County.[10] "Eau Claire" is the singular form of the original French name, "Eaux Claires", meaning "Clear Waters", for the Eau Claire River. According to local legend, the river was so named because early French explorers journeying down the rain-muddied Chippewa River, happened upon the Eau Claire River, excitedly exclaiming "Voici l'eau claire!" ("Here is the clear water!"), the city motto, which appears on the city seal.

Eau Claire is located at 44°49′N 91°30′W / 44.817°N 91.500°W / 44.817; -91.500, (44.8146, −91.4927)[11] approximately 90 miles (145 kilometers) east of Minneapolis and St. Paul, Minnesota. The city is located on the northern fringes of the Driftless Zone.

Enroll in the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Eau Claire WI

Eau Claire WI vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech colleges need to make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided 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 picking the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Eau Claire WI.