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How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Emmaus Pennsylvania

Emmaus PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Emmaus PA may at first feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. Once they have identified some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Emmaus PA

cat with cone after surgery in Emmaus PA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you plan 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 main factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can perform within the Emmaus PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex undertakings, 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 animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental 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 complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet 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 Emmaus PA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Emmaus

student attending online vet tech school in Emmaus PA An option that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Emmaus PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for example for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Emmaus PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Emmaus PA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Emmaus PA area as well as across the Country, 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 focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, 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 rigorous screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Emmaus PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Emmaus PA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Emmaus PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it through 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 assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Emmaus PA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Emmaus PA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Emmaus PA home, you have to make certain that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Emmaus PA. Others might 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 might miss because of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Emmaus PA?

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

Emmaus, Pennsylvania

Emmaus (/ɛˈmeɪ.əs/ em-AY-əs) is a borough in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. It is located 5 miles (8.0 km) southwest of Allentown, Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley region of the state. It is 50 miles (80 km) north of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania's largest city, and 20 miles (32 km) west of the Delaware River.[3] Emmaus is located in the Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ Metropolitan Statistical Area, which is in the New York City-Newark, New Jersey, NY-NJ-CT-PA Combined Statistical Area.

The population of Emmaus was 11,368 in 2015. This borough has been given many awards, including the Delaware Valley Green Building Council's Sustainable Community Award. In 2007[4] and 2009,[5] Emmaus has been listed as one of the top 100 "Best Places to Live" in the United States by Money magazine.[6]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km2), all land, though part of the Little Lehigh Creek, a tributary of the Lehigh River, flows just outside the Emmaus border with Salisbury Township. Emmaus borders South Mountain, a large mountain range. The town's elevation is 436 feet above sea level. Emmaus is located at approximately 40°32′13″N 75°29′45″W / 40.53694°N 75.49583°W / 40.53694; -75.49583.[7] It has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and is in hardiness zone 6b.

Select the Best Vet Tech College near Emmaus PA

Emmaus PA vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate veterinary technician program is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities 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 profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Emmaus PA.