Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Doylestown PA

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician School near Doylestown Pennsylvania

Doylestown PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Doylestown PA may initially feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you have to search for 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 correct selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. After they have located some local colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Doylestown PA

cat with cone after surgery in Doylestown PA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Doylestown PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can 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 Doylestown PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Doylestown

student attending online vet tech school in Doylestown PA An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Doylestown PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for instance for commuting and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school 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 provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Doylestown PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Doylestown PA vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Doylestown PA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among 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 thorough review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Doylestown PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online 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 complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Doylestown PA veterinary clinics 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 some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Doylestown PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Doylestown PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean 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 most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Doylestown PA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Doylestown PA home, you have to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Doylestown PA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Doylestown PA?

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

Doylestown, Pennsylvania

Doylestown is a borough and the county seat of Bucks County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It is located 35 miles (56 km) north of Center City Philadelphia and 80 miles (130 km) southwest of New York City. As of the 2010 census, the borough population was 8,380.[3]

Doylestown's origins date to 1745 when William Doyle obtained a license to build a tavern on what is now the northwest corner of Main and State Street. Known for years as "William Doyle's Tavern," its strategic location — at the intersection of the road (now U.S. Route 202) linking Swede's Ford (Norristown) and Coryell's Ferry (New Hope) and the road (now PA Route 611) linking Philadelphia and Easton — allowed the hamlet to blossom into a village. The first church was erected in 1815, followed by a succession of congregations throughout the 19th century.

As the population of Central and Upper Bucks County grew throughout the 18th and into the 19th century, discontent developed with the county seat's location in Newtown, where it had been since 1725. The county seat moved north to the more centrally located Doylestown in 1813. An outgrowth of Doylestown's new courthouse was the development of "lawyers row", a collection of Federal-style offices. One positive consequence of early 19th-century investment in the new county seat was organized fire protection, which began in 1825 with the Doylestown Fire Engine Company.

Select the Right Veterinary Technician College near Doylestown PA

Doylestown PA vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering vet tech schools need to make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Doylestown PA.