How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Drexel Hill Pennsylvania

Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Drexel Hill PA may initially seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the right choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. Once they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Drexel Hill PA 

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will most likely 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 practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Drexel Hill PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. So the main 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, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Drexel Hill PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Drexel Hill

An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Drexel Hill PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, such as for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Drexel Hill PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Drexel Hill PA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited?  It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Drexel Hill PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Drexel Hill PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Drexel Hill PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Drexel Hill PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Drexel Hill PA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Drexel Hill PA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, 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 large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could 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 imperative that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Drexel Hill PA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Drexel Hill PA?

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

Enroll in the Right Vet Tech Program near Drexel Hill PA

Choosing the right veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech programs must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative 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 evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Drexel Hill PA.

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