How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Duncansville Pennsylvania

Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Duncansville PA may at first feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. After they have found some local colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Duncansville PA 

Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of jobs that they can carry out within the Duncansville PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians 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 earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated 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. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Duncansville PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Duncansville

An approach that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Duncansville PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Duncansville PA Vet Tech Programs

By now you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Duncansville PA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Duncansville PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation?  The vet vocational school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking 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 violations involving your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Duncansville PA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Duncansville PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Duncansville PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Duncansville PA colleges you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Duncansville PA home, you have to make certain 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 close by a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes 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 essential that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Duncansville PA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Duncansville PA?

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

Pick the Ideal Vet Tech College near Duncansville PA

Selecting the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Duncansville PA.

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