Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Center Valley PA

How to Select a Vet Tech Program near Center Valley Pennsylvania

Center Valley PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Center Valley PA could initially feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. After they have located some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Center Valley PA

cat with cone after surgery in Center Valley PA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Center Valley PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Center Valley

student attending online vet tech school in Center Valley PA An option that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using multiple 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 Center Valley PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Center Valley PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Center Valley PA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Center Valley PA area and across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, 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 an extensive review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many Center Valley PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating 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 infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Center Valley PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Center Valley PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Center Valley PA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Center Valley PA colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Center Valley PA home, you have to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within 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 higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Center Valley PA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Center Valley PA?

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

Center Valley, Pennsylvania

Center Valley is an unincorporated community (Census Class Code U6) one mile north of Coopersburg, Pennsylvania, at the intersection of Pennsylvania Route 309 and Pennsylvania Route 378 in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania in the United States.

The Stabler Center, one of the largest areas of land being developed in the Lehigh Valley, is located in Center Valley. In October 2006, The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley, the Lehigh Valley's highest-end outdoor mall, opened for business.[3]

Center Valley also is the location for the headquarters of Olympus Corporation for the Americas, JetPay, and Aesculap, a subsidiary of B. Braun Melsungen, and the Patriot League a college athletic conference, which has 23 sports. The city also holds large regional offices for Dun & Bradstreet and Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Company.

Pick the Ideal Vet Tech College near Center Valley PA

Center Valley PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Center Valley PA.