Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Collegeville PA

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Collegeville Pennsylvania

Collegeville PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Collegeville PA might at first feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have found some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Collegeville PA

cat with cone after surgery in Collegeville PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Collegeville PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. 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 job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Collegeville

student attending online vet tech school in Collegeville PA An option that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Collegeville PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for commuting and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Collegeville PA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Collegeville PA vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Collegeville PA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Collegeville PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Collegeville PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Collegeville PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Collegeville PA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean 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 most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Collegeville PA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Collegeville PA home, you must make certain 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. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Collegeville PA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Collegeville PA?

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

Collegeville, Pennsylvania

Collegeville is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia on the Perkiomen Creek. Collegeville was incorporated in 1896. It is the location of Ursinus College, opened in 1869. The population was 5,089 at the 2010 census.

The area which is present day Collegeville was part of the original William Penn purchase of "All the land lying on the Pahkehoma" in 1684. In 1799, Perkiomen Bridge was constructed using funds raised from a special lottery approved by the Pennsylvania Legislature. When the first post office in this area was established in 1847, it was called Perkiomen Bridge. In 1832, the first school for primary and secondary students was established and it was later renamed Freeland Public School in 1844. In 1848, Henry A. Hunsicker built the "Freeland Seminary of Perkiomen Bridge." Village around the school became known as Freeland. In 1851, Abraham Hunsicker established the Pennsylvania Female College near present day Glenwood Avenue. Ten years later, in 1861, the post office was moved and renamed Freeland.

When the trains first arrived in the area in 1868, there was a debate about naming of the station (Perkiomen Bridge vs Freeland). The local citizens had acquired notoriety when they had burned down the toll booth on the Perkiomen Bridge and thrown the gate into the river. The rail company avoided any troubles by naming it "Collegeville" (the station was actually closer to the Pennsylvania Female College than either Freeland School or Perkiomen Bridge). Ursinus College was founded a year later in 1869. Thus the name "Collegeville" precedes the establishment of Ursinus College and it is actually named after the other 4 year liberal arts college (Pennsylvania Female College) which closed in 1880. Collegeville was incorporated as Borough in 1896.

Choose the Right Vet Tech College near Collegeville PA

Collegeville PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech schools must 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 commonly take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding 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 choosing the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Collegeville PA.