Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Lake Harmony PA

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Lake Harmony Pennsylvania

Lake Harmony PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Lake Harmony PA might at first seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. After they have identified some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Lake Harmony PA

cat with cone after surgery in Lake Harmony PA One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Lake Harmony PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training 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 practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. Therefore 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 options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Lake Harmony

student attending online vet tech school in Lake Harmony PA An approach that might be a solution 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 offered through the internet, students can attend 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 the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Lake Harmony PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Lake Harmony PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Lake Harmony PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Lake Harmony PA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for many Lake Harmony PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, get in touch with some Lake Harmony PA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Lake Harmony PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate may signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Lake Harmony PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lake Harmony PA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Lake Harmony PA home, you need to confirm that the driving time is compatible with 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, particularly if the college is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the vet schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Lake Harmony PA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the best way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lake Harmony PA?

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

Harmony, Pennsylvania

Interstate 79 passes just east of the borough, with access from exits 87 and 88. Via I-79 it is 30 miles (48 km) south to downtown Pittsburgh and 99 miles (159 km) north to Erie. Pennsylvania Route 68 passes through the borough just south of the downtown and leads west into Zelienople and east 17 miles (27 km) to Butler, the county seat.

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 937 people, 409 households, and 267 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,468.0 people per square mile (952.0/km²). There were 434 housing units at an average density of 1,143.1 per square mile (441.0/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.15% White, 0.53% African American, 0.21% Native American, and 0.11% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.64% of the population.

There were 409 households, out of which 23.7% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 54.3% were married couples living together, 6.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 34.5% were non-families. 27.9% of all households were made up of individuals, and 10.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.29 and the average family size was 2.82.

Choose the Best Vet Tech College near Lake Harmony PA

Lake Harmony PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students considering vet tech schools need to make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed 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 covered, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lake Harmony PA.