Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Lickingville PA

How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Lickingville Pennsylvania

Lickingville PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Lickingville PA might initially seem like a daunting task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. When they have located some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Lickingville PA

cat with cone after surgery in Lickingville PA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Lickingville PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and typically earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary 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 Lickingville PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Lickingville

student attending online vet tech school in Lickingville PA An option that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Lickingville PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, such as for travel and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Lickingville PA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Lickingville PA vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Lickingville PA area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on 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 choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through 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 programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Lickingville PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Lickingville PA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs set up with Lickingville PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate may signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Lickingville PA veterinarian community and has a significant 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 ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Lickingville PA colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Lickingville PA home, you need to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, 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 particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Lickingville PA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lickingville PA?

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

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech School near Lickingville PA

Lickingville PA vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Lickingville PA.