How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Mercer Pennsylvania

Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Mercer PA might at first feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. Once they have identified some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Mercer PA 

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the Mercer PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a formal 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 performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
• Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years to complete. Therefore 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 career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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  Mercer PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Mercer

An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Mercer PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Mercer PA Vet Tech Programs

By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Mercer PA area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited?  It’s essential that you confirm that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for many Mercer PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you select must have an excellent 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 assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Mercer PA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Mercer PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Mercer PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Mercer PA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Mercer PA home, you must make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it’s important that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Mercer PA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Mercer PA?

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

Enroll in the Best Veterinary Technician College near Mercer PA

Picking the ideal vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students considering vet tech colleges must make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Mercer PA.

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