How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near East Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Achieving your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near East Pittsburgh PA could at first feel like a challenging task. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. When they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in East Pittsburgh PA 

One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can perform within the East Pittsburgh PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a structured 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 vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and normally 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 function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  East Pittsburgh PA labs or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in East Pittsburgh

An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since 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 venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local East Pittsburgh PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask East Pittsburgh PA Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the East Pittsburgh PA area and across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It’s imperative that you verify that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of East Pittsburgh PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation?  The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some East Pittsburgh PA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with East Pittsburgh PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate could mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the East Pittsburgh PA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the East Pittsburgh PA programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your East Pittsburgh PA home, you have to confirm that the driving time fits into 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, especially if the school is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes might 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 programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near East Pittsburgh PA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near East Pittsburgh PA?

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

Select the Best Vet Tech School near East Pittsburgh PA

Choosing the ideal vet tech school is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs 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 choice. And by picking the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in East Pittsburgh PA.

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