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How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Lake Como Pennsylvania

Lake Como PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Lake Como PA might at first seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Lake Como PA

cat with cone after surgery in Lake Como PA Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Lake Como PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, 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. Generally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. So 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 job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Lake Como PA laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Lake Como

student attending online vet tech school in Lake Como PA An approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Lake Como PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in 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 complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Lake Como PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Lake Como PA vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Lake Como PA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, among the most highly regarded 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 receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Lake Como PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with 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 infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Lake Como PA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Lake Como PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Lake Como PA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lake Como PA colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning 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 College Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Lake Como PA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time fits into 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 college is located near or in 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 increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Lake Como PA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lake Como PA?

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

Perry Como

Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como (/ˈkoʊmoʊ/; May 18, 1912 – May 12, 2001) was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for RCA Victor after signing with the label in 1943.[1] "Mr. C.", as he was nicknamed, sold millions of records and pioneered a weekly musical variety television show. His weekly television shows and seasonal specials were broadcast throughout the world. In the official RCA Records Billboard magazine memorial, his life was summed up in these few words: "50 years of music and a life well lived. An example to all."[2]

Como received five Emmys from 1955 to 1959,[3] a Christopher Award (1956) and shared a Peabody Award with good friend Jackie Gleason in 1956.[4][5] He was inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame in 1990[6][7] and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1987.[8] Posthumously, Como received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2002;[9] he was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006. He has the distinction of having three stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his work in radio, television, and music.[10]

Como was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania.[11] He was the seventh of ten children and the first American-born child of Pietro Como and Lucia Travaglini, who both emigrated to the US in 1910 from the Abruzzese town of Palena, Italy.[12][13][14][a][b] He did not begin speaking English until he entered school, since the Comos spoke Italian at home.[19] The family had a second-hand organ his father had bought for $3; as soon as Como was able to toddle, he would head to the instrument, pump the bellows, and play music he had heard by ear.[20] Pietro, a mill hand and an amateur baritone, had all his children attend music lessons even if he could barely afford them.[21] In a rare 1957 interview, Como's mother, Lucia, described how her young son also took on other jobs to pay for more music lessons; Como learned to play many different instruments, but never had a voice lesson.[14] He showed more musical talent in his teenage years as a trombone player in the town's brass band, playing guitar, singing at weddings, and as an organist at church.[22][23] Como was a member of the Canonsburg Italian Band along with the father of singer Bobby Vinton, bandleader Stan Vinton, who was often a customer at his barber shop.[24][25][26]

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Lake Como PA

Lake Como PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students looking into vet tech programs must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Lake Como PA.