Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Hortonville WI

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Hortonville Wisconsin

Hortonville WI vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Hortonville WI might initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have located some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Hortonville WI

cat with cone after surgery in Hortonville WI Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Hortonville WI veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured 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. Normally they are not involved with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. So the only real 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 potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Hortonville WI labs or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Hortonville

student attending online vet tech school in Hortonville WI An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Hortonville WI veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for example for commuting and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical 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 program may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Hortonville WI Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Hortonville WI vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Hortonville WI area and across the Country, you should ask some qualifying 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 the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Hortonville WI area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Wisconsin school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Hortonville WI vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Hortonville WI veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate could indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Hortonville WI vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Hortonville WI programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Hortonville WI home, you must make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or close by 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 increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Hortonville WI. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Hortonville WI?

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

Hortonville, Wisconsin

The village was founded in 1848 by landowner Alonzo Horton. One of Horton's first priorities was to dam Black Otter Creek, creating the 75-acre (300,000 m2) Black Otter Lake. After laying out a plat for the community and encouraging development by giving much of the land away, Horton was swayed westward by the California Gold Rush. He later developed the city of San Diego, California.[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.55 square miles (9.19 km2), of which, 3.47 square miles (8.99 km2) of it is land and 0.08 square miles (0.21 km2) is water.[10]

The community is located on the shores of the 75-acre (300,000 m2) Black Otter Lake. It is drained by Black Otter Creek, which flows into the Wolf River just north of the village. The total watershed for the lake is estimated to be 16 square miles (41 km2).[11]

Pick the Best Vet Tech School near Hortonville WI

Hortonville WI vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Hortonville WI.