Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Hershey PA - Find Vet Tech Schools Near You

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Hershey Pennsylvania

Hershey PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Hershey PA may at first seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a program that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. When they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Hershey PA

cat with cone after surgery in Hershey PA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can perform within the Hershey PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

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 completing 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. Usually they are not involved with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically 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 career opportunities, increased salaries and potential 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 internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Hershey PA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Hershey

student attending online vet tech school in Hershey PA An option that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Hershey PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for instance for travel and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Hershey PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Hershey PA vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Hershey PA area and across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that ensures 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 programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Hershey PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Hershey PA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Hershey PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Hershey PA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Hershey PA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Hershey PA home, you need to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus 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 higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Hershey PA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Hershey PA?

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

Hershey, Pennsylvania

Hershey is an unincorporated community and census-designated place (CDP) in Derry Township, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania, United States. Hershey's chocolates are made in Hershey, which was founded by candy magnate Milton S. Hershey.

The community is located 14 miles (23 km) east of Harrisburg and is part of the Harrisburg−Carlisle Metropolitan Statistical Area. Hershey has no legal status as an incorporated municipality, and all its municipal services are provided by Derry Township. The population was 14,257 at the 2010 census.[2]

Hershey is located in southeastern Dauphin County, in the center and eastern parts of Derry Township. It is bordered to the east by Palmdale (also in Derry Township) and by Campbelltown (in South Londonderry Township, Lebanon County). To the west is the borough of Hummelstown. Over half the population of Derry Township is within the Hershey CDP.

Select the Best Vet Tech Program near Hershey PA

Hershey PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Hershey PA.