Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Dallastown PA

How to Find the Right Vet Tech Program near Dallastown Pennsylvania

Dallastown PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Dallastown PA could at first seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have located some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Dallastown PA

cat with cone after surgery in Dallastown PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Dallastown PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

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 graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Dallastown PA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Dallastown

student attending online vet tech school in Dallastown PA An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Dallastown PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

Things to Ask Dallastown PA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Dallastown PA vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Dallastown PA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Dallastown PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions 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 violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Dallastown PA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Dallastown PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate might signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Dallastown PA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Dallastown PA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations 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 Campus Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Dallastown PA home, you have to make sure that the driving time fits into 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 college is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Dallastown PA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Dallastown PA?

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

Dallastown, Pennsylvania

Dallastown was named after George M. Dallas of Philadelphia (Vice President of the United States during the Polk administration) during the presidential campaign of 1844. Dallastown was incorporated April 1866.

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 4,087 people, 1,622 households, and 1,026 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,567.2 people per square mile (2,161.6/km²). There were 1,707 housing units at an average density of 2,325.2 per square mile (902.8/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.19% White, 0.78% African American, 0.20% Native American, 0.34% Asian, 0.12% Pacific Islander, 0.39% from other races, and 0.98% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.79% of the population.

There were 1,622 households out of which 31.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 46.4% were married couples living together, 12.5% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.7% were non-families. 29.8% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.91.

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician School near Dallastown PA

Dallastown PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Dallastown PA.