Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Hellertown PA

How to Find the Right Vet Tech Program near Hellertown Pennsylvania

Hellertown PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Hellertown PA could at first feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a college that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. When they have found some local colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the varied duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Hellertown PA

cat with cone after surgery in Hellertown PA Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can perform within the Hellertown PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. So the main 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 opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally 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 emergency care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Hellertown PA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Hellertown

student attending online vet tech school in Hellertown PA An option that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Hellertown PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished 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 perfect option for you.

What to Ask Hellertown PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Hellertown PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Hellertown PA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you choose 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). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Hellertown PA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating 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 infractions involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Hellertown PA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain 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 arranged with Hellertown PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Hellertown PA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Hellertown PA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Hellertown PA home, you must confirm 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school 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 taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are considering 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 Hellertown PA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Hellertown PA?

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

Hellertown, Pennsylvania

Hellertown is a borough in Northampton County, Pennsylvania, United States. Hellertown is located in the Lehigh Valley region of the state, and geographically in the Lehigh Valley's Saucon Valley. The population of Hellertown was 5,898 at the 2010 census.

Pennsylvania Route 412 runs north-south through Hellertown on Main Street, heading north to Bethlehem and south into Bucks County, where it provides access to Pennsylvania Route 611. PA 412 has an interchange with Interstate 78 on the northern edge of Hellertown, which heads west to Allentown and Harrisburg and east to Easton and New York City.[4]

LANTA provides bus service to Hellertown along Route 215, which provides service Monday-Saturday north to Bethlehem and Lehigh Valley International Airport, and Route 105, which provides Sunday service north to Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley Mall.[5]Bieber Transportation Group and Trans-Bridge Lines provide bus service from Hellertown to New York City from a park and ride lot located at the interchange between I-78 and PA 412.[6][7] Hellertown formerly had commuter rail service along SEPTA's Bethlehem Line north to Bethlehem and south to Philadelphia at Hellertown station, but service ended in 1981.

Pick the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Hellertown PA

Hellertown PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges 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 selection. And by selecting the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Hellertown PA.