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How to Choose a Vet Tech Program near Bethlehem Pennsylvania

Bethlehem PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Bethlehem PA may at first seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the right choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. When they have located some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered 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 presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Bethlehem PA

cat with cone after surgery in Bethlehem PA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to 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 although there are many tasks that they can perform within the Bethlehem PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental 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 involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can 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 Bethlehem PA laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Bethlehem

student attending online vet tech school in Bethlehem PA An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Bethlehem PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for travel and study supplies, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. 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 fashion, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Bethlehem PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Bethlehem PA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Bethlehem PA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, 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 an extensive review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Bethlehem PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Bethlehem PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs established with Bethlehem PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Bethlehem PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Bethlehem PA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Bethlehem PA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a larger 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 charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online 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 ascertain if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Bethlehem PA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Bethlehem PA?

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

Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Bethlehem is a city in Lehigh and Northampton counties in the Lehigh Valley region of the eastern portion of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. The city is named after the Palestinian city Bethlehem that is located in the West Bank. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 74,982, making it the seventh largest city in Pennsylvania, after Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Allentown, Erie, Reading, and Scranton.[4] Of this, 55,639 were in Northampton County, and 19,343 were in Lehigh County.

Bethlehem lies in the center of the Lehigh Valley, a region of 731 sq mi (1,890 km2) that is home to more than 800,000 people. Together with Allentown and Easton, the Valley embraces the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ metropolitan area, including Lehigh, Northampton, and Carbon counties within Pennsylvania, and Warren County in the adjacent state of New Jersey. Smaller than Allentown but larger than Easton, Bethlehem is the Lehigh Valley's second most populous city. In turn, this metropolitan area comprises Pennsylvania's third-largest metropolitan area and the state's largest and most populous contribution to the greater New York City metropolitan area.

There are four general sections of the city: central Bethlehem, the south side, the east side, and the west side. Each of these sections blossomed at different times in the city's development and each contains areas recognized under the National Register of Historic Places. ZIP codes that use the address Bethlehem totaled 116,000 in population in the year 2000. These ZIP codes include Bethlehem Township and Hanover Township.

Enroll in the Right Veterinary Technician College near Bethlehem PA

Bethlehem PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech programs must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Bethlehem PA.