Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Cowansville PA

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Cowansville Pennsylvania

Cowansville PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Cowansville PA could initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. After they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Cowansville PA

cat with cone after surgery in Cowansville PA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can carry out within the Cowansville PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 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 career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Cowansville

student attending online vet tech school in Cowansville PA An approach that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Cowansville PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program 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 disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Cowansville PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Cowansville PA vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Cowansville PA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, 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 a thorough screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Cowansville PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Cowansville PA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Cowansville PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Cowansville PA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Cowansville PA colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some 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 instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Cowansville PA home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Cowansville PA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify 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 work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Cowansville PA?

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

East Franklin Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania

The township is located in west-central Armstrong County, on the west side of the Allegheny River. It surrounds the boroughs of West Kittanning and Applewold. Unincorporated communities in the township include West Hills, Walkchalk, Furnace Run, Tarrtown, Bridgeburg, Adrian, and Cowansville.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 31.5 square miles (81.7 km2), of which 30.9 square miles (80.0 km2) is land and 0.66 square miles (1.7 km2), or 2.12%, is water.[3]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 3,900 people, 1,546 households, and 1,167 families residing in the township. The population density was 126.4 people per square mile (48.8/km²). There were 1,656 housing units at an average density of 53.7/sq mi (20.7/km²). The racial makeup of the township was 98.87% White, 0.10% African American, 0.21% Native American, 0.36% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 0.03% from other races, and 0.41% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.44% of the population.

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech College near Cowansville PA

Cowansville PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges 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 college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Cowansville PA.