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How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Auburn Pennsylvania

Auburn PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Auburn PA may initially seem like a challenging task. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. After they have located some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Auburn PA

cat with cone after surgery in Auburn PA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Auburn PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive 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 equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may 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 Auburn PA labs or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Auburn

student attending online vet tech school in Auburn PA An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Auburn PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Auburn PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Auburn PA vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Auburn PA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Auburn PA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Auburn PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Auburn PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate might signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Auburn PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Auburn PA schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning 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 discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Auburn PA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with 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, particularly if the school is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Auburn PA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Auburn PA?

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

Auburn, Pennsylvania

The area was historically known as the "Scotchman's Lock". The first house in what is today Auburn was built in the late 1830s by a boatman named Samuel Moyer, who also operated a store there. In 1842, the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad reached the area, at which point the area's official name was changed to "Auburn". The Susquehanna and Schuylkill Railroad reached Auburn in 1857. The first post office in Auburn was built in 1846 and the first school was set up in 1845.[4]

Auburn is located at 40°35′45″N 76°5′34″W / 40.59583°N 76.09278°W / 40.59583; -76.09278 (40.595715, -76.092642).[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2), of which 1.7 square miles (4.4 km2) is land and 0.60% is water.

The borough's terrain is steeply hilly in the north and gently hilly in the south. Auburn's land is mostly forest, with some residential and agricultural areas. The Schuylkill River runs through Auburn. The borough is served by Pennsylvania Route 895.[6]

Choose the Right Vet Tech School near Auburn PA

Auburn PA vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Auburn PA.