Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Breezewood PA

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician School near Breezewood Pennsylvania

Breezewood PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Breezewood PA might initially feel like a daunting task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. When they have identified some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Breezewood PA

cat with cone after surgery in Breezewood PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Breezewood PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

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 finishing 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 associated with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. So the main 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 options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Breezewood PA laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Breezewood

student attending online vet tech school in Breezewood PA An approach that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Breezewood PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for commuting and study supplies, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Breezewood PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Breezewood PA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Breezewood PA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech college 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 gone through a demanding review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for many Breezewood PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. 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 tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Breezewood PA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Breezewood PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Breezewood PA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Breezewood PA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Breezewood PA home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, 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 costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you ascertain if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Breezewood PA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Breezewood PA?

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

Breezewood, Pennsylvania

Along a traditional pathway for Native Americans, European settlers, and British troops during colonial times, in the early 20th century, the small valley that became known as Breezewood was a popular stopping place for automobile travelers on the Lincoln Highway, beginning in 1913. Greyhound Lines opened a Post House facility in the town in 1935; it closed in 2004.

In 1940, Breezewood was designated exit 6 on the just-opened Pennsylvania Turnpike. In the 1960s, Breezewood became the junction of the Turnpike and the new Interstate 70. Later renumbered exit 12, it is now exit 161 on the Turnpike following a change to mileage-based exit numbering.

Breezewood has been labeled a "tourist trap" which prevents travelers from easily transitioning between Interstate 70 and the Turnpike, instead routing traffic along a two-mile loop lined with gas stations, hotels, and restaurants.[1] This section of Interstate 70 is one of the few parts of the Interstate Highway System which is not a controlled-access highway.

Enroll in the Best Veterinary Technician Program near Breezewood PA

Breezewood PA vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech colleges must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative 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 programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Breezewood PA.