Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Connoquenessing PA

How to Select a Vet Tech Program near Connoquenessing Pennsylvania

Connoquenessing PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Connoquenessing PA might initially seem like a daunting task. After all, you need to search for 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 tackle evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have identified some area colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Connoquenessing PA

cat with cone after surgery in Connoquenessing PA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Connoquenessing PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Connoquenessing

student attending online vet tech school in Connoquenessing PA An approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Connoquenessing PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished 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 ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Connoquenessing PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Connoquenessing PA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Connoquenessing PA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important 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, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, 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 rigorous review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Connoquenessing PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Connoquenessing PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Connoquenessing PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate could mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Connoquenessing PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Connoquenessing PA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Connoquenessing PA home, you must make sure that the driving time is compatible with 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, especially if the school is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Connoquenessing PA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Connoquenessing PA?

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

Connoquenessing Creek

It rises in eastern Butler County and flows southwest, through the Lake Oneida reservoir and past Butler, then WNW in a meandering course past Eidenau where Breakneck Creek is received, and then continuing past Harmony and Zelienople. It receives Slippery Rock Creek from the northwest near Ellwood City, then joins the Beaver west of Ellwood City, approximately 3 mi (5 km) further downstream.

In 2000, a scientific study was conducted to determine the health of the creek. Researchers discovered that only the Mississippi River received more toxic materials than the Connoquenessing, making the small river the second most polluted waterway in the United States. "The Armco Inc. steel facility in Butler, purchased last September [1999] by AK Steel, ranked first nationally for the amount of pollutant discharges. The steelmaker legally discharged more than 29 million pounds of nitrate compounds -- a waste produced when nitric acid is used to "pickle" or clean the surface of raw steel—into Connoquenessing Creek."[1]

However, as of 2010, the Connoquenessing Creek was not listed in the national Top 10 for polluted waterways. Also, as of 2010, Armco Inc. steel in Butler was not listed in the Top 20 in regards to national pollutant dischargers.[2]

Select the Right Vet Tech School near Connoquenessing PA

Connoquenessing PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the right vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students considering vet tech colleges must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. 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 reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Connoquenessing PA.