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How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Athens Pennsylvania

Athens PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Athens PA may at first feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. After they have identified some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various roles of vet techs and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Athens PA

cat with cone after surgery in Athens PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can carry out within the Athens PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Athens

student attending online vet tech school in Athens PA An approach that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Athens PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. 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 vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Athens PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Athens PA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Athens PA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a school 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 vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, 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 a thorough review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for many Athens PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian 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 tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Athens PA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Athens PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may 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 low rate might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Athens PA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Athens PA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Athens PA home, you have to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community 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 last, it’s essential that you find out if the vet colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough 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 Athens PA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Athens PA?

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

Athens, Pennsylvania

Athens is a borough in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, United States, located 2 miles (3 km) south of the New York state line on the Susquehanna and Chemung rivers. The population was 3,749 in 1900 and 3,796 in 1910. The population was 3,367 at the 2010 census.[4] Athens is in a small area locally known as "The Valley", a group of four contiguous communities in Pennsylvania and New York: Waverly, New York; South Waverly, Pennsylvania; Sayre, Pennsylvania; and Athens. The Valley has a population near 30,000.

In September 2011, Athens was heavily damaged by river flooding from Tropical Storm Lee. Much of Athens was under water, with the most damage in the downtown area along the river. Damage in nearby Tioga County, New York, was estimated at $100 million.[5]

Athens is located in northern Bradford County at 41°57′50″N 76°31′21″W / 41.96389°N 76.52250°W / 41.96389; -76.52250 (41.963809, -76.522608).[7] It lies on land between the Susquehanna River to the east and the Chemung River to the west, extending southward to their confluence at Tioga Point. The borough of Sayre borders Athens to the north, and Athens Township borders the remainder of the borough, to the east, west, and south.

Pick the Best Vet Tech School near Athens PA

Athens PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech programs must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online 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 choosing the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Athens PA.