Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Glen Mills PA

How to Pick a Vet Tech Program near Glen Mills Pennsylvania

Glen Mills PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Glen Mills PA could initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the best selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. After they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when assessing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Glen Mills PA

cat with cone after surgery in Glen Mills PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Glen Mills PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through 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 techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and usually earn a two 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 basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may 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 Glen Mills PA laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Glen Mills

student attending online vet tech school in Glen Mills PA An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Glen Mills PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for travel and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you select 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 comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Glen Mills PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Glen Mills PA vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Glen Mills PA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive 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 programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of Glen Mills PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Glen Mills PA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Glen Mills PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Glen Mills PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Glen Mills PA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Glen Mills PA home, you must confirm that the driving 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 close by a larger 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 fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Glen Mills PA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Glen Mills PA?

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

Glen Mills, Pennsylvania

The area around Glen Mills was part of the original land grant given to William Penn in 1681. George Cheyney was the first settler here, for which the nearby town of Cheyney is named. Later, this land was sold and divided. The name Glen Mills is taken from two paper mills built by the Willcox family, one in 1835 and the second in 1846. From 1864 to 1878, these mills supplied the United States government with a special, patented paper for the printing of government bonds and notes.

The Glen Mills are no longer standing, but the grist mill built by Nathaniel Newlin in 1704 still stands and is a popular destination for picnickers and history buffs alike. A blacksmith shop was built on the former property in 1975.[3] The Newlin Mill Complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.[4]

The West Chester and Philadelphia Railroad arrived in Glen Mills c. 1858, and provided train service between Philadelphia and West Chester.[5] The Pennsylvania Railroad took control of the rail line in 1880. Passenger trains through Glen Mills were operated by SEPTA until 1986. The West Chester Railroad, a heritage railway, currently operates trains between Glen Mills and West Chester on weekends.

Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech School near Glen Mills PA

Glen Mills PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Glen Mills PA.