Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Fort Littleton PA

How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Fort Littleton Pennsylvania

Fort Littleton PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Fort Littleton PA may initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the proper training so 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 selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. When they have identified some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Fort Littleton PA

cat with cone after surgery in Fort Littleton PA Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many tasks that they can perform within the Fort Littleton PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 associated with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. Therefore 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 career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Fort Littleton PA laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Fort Littleton

student attending online vet tech school in Fort Littleton PA An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Fort Littleton PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for example for travel and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you select 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 comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Fort Littleton PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Fort Littleton PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Fort Littleton PA area and across the USA, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected 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 verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Fort Littleton PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Fort Littleton PA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Fort Littleton PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm 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 exceptional reputation within the Fort Littleton PA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Fort Littleton PA programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Fort Littleton PA home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the vet schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Fort Littleton PA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Fort Littleton PA?

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

U.S. Route 522

U.S. Route 522 (US 522) is a 308-mile (496 km) spur route of U.S. Route 22 in the eastern United States. The southern terminus of the route is at U.S. Route 60 in Powhatan, Virginia. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 11 and U.S. Route 15 in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. US 522 passes through the states of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. US 522 is a part of the National Highway System from SR 37 near Winchester, Virginia north to Interstate 70 (I-70) in Warfordsburg, Pennsylvania and from the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) north to Selinsgrove.[1]

In Virginia, US 522 runs 159.65 miles (256.93 km) from its southern terminus at US 60 in Powhatan north to the West Virginia state line near Cross Junction. In the Piedmont of central Virginia, US 522 is a minor highway connecting several county seats, including Powhatan, Goochland, and Culpeper. North of Culpeper, the U.S. highway increases in importance, crossing the Blue Ridge Mountains, connecting Culpeper with Sperryville and Front Royal. US 522 is mostly a four-lane divided highway north of Front Royal, where it passes through the Shenandoah Valley and the city of Winchester on its way to the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.

In West Virginia, US 522 runs 19.0 miles (30.6 km) from the Virginia state line near Ridge north to the Maryland state line at the Potomac River in Hancock just south of Hancock, Maryland. US 522 passes through Ridge and Valley Province of the Appalachian Mountains in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. The portion of the U.S. highway in West Virginia serves to connect Winchester with Hancock via Berkeley Springs, the county seat of Morgan County.

Select the Best Veterinary Technician School near Fort Littleton PA

Fort Littleton PA vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually 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 profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Fort Littleton PA.