How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Catasauqua Pennsylvania

Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Catasauqua PA might initially seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have identified some area colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Catasauqua PA 

One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can perform within the Catasauqua PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. Therefore 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 additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Catasauqua PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Catasauqua

An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Catasauqua PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for traveling and study supplies, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in 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 mode, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Catasauqua PA Vet Tech Schools

At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Catasauqua PA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Catasauqua PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Catasauqua PA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Catasauqua PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Catasauqua PA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Catasauqua PA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Catasauqua PA home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located near or in a large city. In addition, 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 online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Catasauqua PA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Catasauqua PA?

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

Enroll in the Right Vet Tech College near Catasauqua PA

Selecting the right vet tech program is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech programs need to make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Catasauqua PA.

Other Doggone Good Cities in Pennsylvania

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Sumneytown PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Avonmore PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Utica PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools New Geneva PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Gap PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Lake City PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Valley View PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Palmerton PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Crum Lynne PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Connellsville PA