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How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Codorus Pennsylvania

Codorus PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Codorus PA might initially seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the right choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should 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 a final choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Codorus PA

cat with cone after surgery in Codorus PA Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Codorus PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have gone through a formal 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 trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary 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 complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. So 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 work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Codorus

student attending online vet tech school in Codorus PA An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Codorus PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, such as for travel and study materials, can be lower compared to more standard 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 courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Codorus PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Codorus PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Codorus PA area and across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech program you enroll in 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). Trade 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 necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Codorus PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating 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 infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, contact some Codorus PA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Codorus PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Codorus PA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well 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, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Codorus PA schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Codorus PA home, you must confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Codorus PA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure 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 as a result of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Codorus PA?

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

Codorus State Park

Codorus State Park is a 3,500-acre (1,400 ha) Pennsylvania state park in Heidelberg, Manheim, Penn, and West Manheim Townships in southwestern York County, Pennsylvania in the United States. The park was created around Lake Marburg, an artificial lake covering 1,275 acres (516 ha), and is named for Codorus Creek, which forms the lake. Codorus State Park is located on Pennsylvania Route 216, 3 miles (4.8 km) from the borough of Hanover.

When Europeans first reached the land that became Codorus State Park, it was the territory of Susquehannock Indians, a powerful tribe that controlled much of the land near the Susquehanna River. Wars and the push of settlers, most of which were German farmers, led to the demise of the Susquehannocks, but industry soon followed.

Built in 1762, Mary Ann Furnace is believed to be the first charcoal furnace built on the western side of the Susquehanna River. The furnace supplied cannonballs and grapeshot for the continental army and employed Hessian prisoners to run the ironworks while many of the available workforce were off fighting the British. Nothing remains of the ironworks except memories.

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician College near Codorus PA

Codorus PA vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Codorus PA.