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How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician Program near Lititz Pennsylvania

Lititz PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Lititz PA might initially feel like a challenging task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. Once they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Lititz PA

cat with cone after surgery in Lititz PA One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Lititz PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Lititz PA labs or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Lititz

student attending online vet tech school in Lititz PA An approach that might make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Lititz PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for travel and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Lititz PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Lititz PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Lititz PA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for many Lititz PA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Lititz PA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Lititz PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may 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 low rate might signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. 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 outstanding reputation within the Lititz PA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Lititz PA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Lititz PA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into 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 school is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Lititz PA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lititz PA?

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

Lititz, Pennsylvania

Lititz was founded by members of the Moravian Church in 1756 and was named after a castle (mentioned form of name is German; Czech name of this castle is Litice) in Bohemia near the village of Kunvald where the ancient Bohemian Brethren's Church had been founded in 1457. The roots of the Moravian Brethren's Church date back to the ancient Bohemian Brethren's Church.

For a century, only Moravians were permitted to live in Lititz. Until the middle of the 19th century, only members of the congregation could own houses; others were required to lease. The lease-system was abolished in 1855, just five years before the beginning of the Civil War. More information can be found in the book A Brief History of Lititz Pennsylvania by Mary Augusta Huevener, published in 1947.

During a part of the American Revolution, the Brethren's House, built in 1759, was used as a hospital. A number of soldiers died and were buried here. Lititz is also home to Linden Hall School, the oldest all-girls boarding school in the United States. Located adjacent to the Moravian Church on 47 acres (19 ha) of land, Linden Hall School was founded by the Moravians in 1746, a decade before the borough was incorporated.[3]

Select the Best Veterinary Technician College near Lititz PA

Lititz PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech schools must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to 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 alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Lititz PA.