Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Curwensville PA

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Curwensville Pennsylvania

Curwensville PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Curwensville PA might at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. When they have found some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article in order 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 Function of a Veterinary Technician in Curwensville PA

cat with cone after surgery in Curwensville PA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can carry out within the Curwensville PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

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 completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties 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 typically earn 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 duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years. So 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 work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Curwensville

student attending online vet tech school in Curwensville PA An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Curwensville PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, such as for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Curwensville PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Curwensville PA vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Curwensville PA area and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, 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 a thorough screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Curwensville PA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking 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 regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Curwensville PA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Curwensville PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Curwensville PA veterinarian community and has a significant 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 Big 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. Solicit from the Curwensville PA programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Curwensville PA home, you must 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, especially if the campus is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Curwensville PA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Curwensville PA?

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

Curwensville, Pennsylvania

Curwensville is a borough in Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States, 45 miles (72 km) north of Altoona on the West Branch Susquehanna River. Coal mining, tanning, and the manufacture of fire bricks were the industries at the turn of the 20th century. In 1900, 1,937 people lived in the borough, and in 1910, 2,549 lived there. As of the 2010 U.S. census, the borough had a population of 2,542.[3] The population of the borough at its highest was 3,422 in 1940.

North American Refractories Company (NARCO) was a brick plant in Curwensville. The "Brick Yard" as most called it in the community made many different types of brick. Seneca, acid, and cardic brick were all manufactured in NARCO. They were also noted for hot gun models and specialty shapes.

The sandstone quarry owned by Russell Stone Products, Inc. in Curwensville, PA, is a valued asset. Although the site had remained dormant for a lengthy period of time in the 1900s, today it is a viable source that has extensively supplied material for many prominent projects nationwide.

Select the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Curwensville PA

Curwensville PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech college is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities 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 outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Curwensville PA.