Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Littlestown PA

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician School near Littlestown Pennsylvania

Littlestown PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Littlestown PA might at first feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will deliver the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. Once they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. 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 vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied roles of vet techs and the training options available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Littlestown PA

cat with cone after surgery in Littlestown PA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can perform within the Littlestown PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, 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 can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Littlestown PA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Littlestown

student attending online vet tech school in Littlestown PA An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Littlestown PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Littlestown PA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Littlestown PA vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Littlestown PA area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding screening process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Littlestown PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Littlestown PA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Littlestown PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Littlestown PA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Littlestown PA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding 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? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Littlestown PA home, you need to make sure 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 campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian 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 Littlestown PA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Littlestown PA?

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

Littlestown, Pennsylvania

Originally laid out by Peter Klein in 1760, the town was first named "Petersburg". German settlers in the area came to call the town "Kleine Stedtle". As confusion between the town and a neighboring town (also named "Petersburg", now York Springs[3]) grew, the town officially changed its name to Littlestown (essentially a translation of "Kleine Stedtle" from German) in 1795.[4]

Littlestown is located at 39°44′37″N 77°5′21″W / 39.74361°N 77.08917°W / 39.74361; -77.08917 (39.743749, -77.089240).[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.6 square miles (4.1 km2), all of it land.

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 3,947 people, 1,586 households, and 1,113 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,517.0 people per square mile (970.7/km²). There were 1,692 housing units at an average density of 1,079.0 per square mile (416.1/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.26% White, 0.56% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.43% Asian, 0.51% from other races, and 1.14% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.27% of the population.

Pick the Best Veterinary Technician School near Littlestown PA

Littlestown PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician program is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech programs need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Littlestown PA.