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How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Glenshaw Pennsylvania

Glenshaw PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Glenshaw PA could initially feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. When they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Glenshaw PA

cat with cone after surgery in Glenshaw PA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Glenshaw PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. 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 involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Glenshaw

student attending online vet tech school in Glenshaw PA An option that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Glenshaw PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Glenshaw PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Glenshaw PA vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Glenshaw PA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech program 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 gone through an extensive screening process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Glenshaw PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Glenshaw PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Glenshaw PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Glenshaw PA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Glenshaw PA programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Glenshaw PA home, you must make sure that the commuting time fits into 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 near or in 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 costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Glenshaw PA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Glenshaw PA?

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

Shaler Township, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania

Shaler Township is a township in Allegheny County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. It consists of much of the community of Glenshaw and several neighboring communities. The population was 28,757 at the 2010 census.

Traders began settling in the Shaler area in the mid-18th century. The most prominent early trader in the area was George Croghan, who came in the early 1740s. By 1754, settlement included the Pine Creek trading post, where Europeans traded fur and skins with the Mingo and other Native Americans in the Ohio Valley. The second early European settlement was Girty's Run, established by Simon Girty.[3]

The village of Glenshaw, Pennsylvania—at the center of what became Shaler Township—was established in the early 19th century, beginning with a log sawmill built by John Shaw, Sr. after he bought 600 acres (2.4 km2) of land north of Pittsburgh in 1800. The area became known as "Shaw's Glen", and later Glenshaw. Members of the Shaw family subsequently built a log gristmill, a sickle factory, and a coal mine.[4]

Enroll in the Ideal Veterinary Technician Program near Glenshaw PA

Glenshaw PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech programs need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential 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 provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Glenshaw PA.