Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Millersburg PA

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Millersburg Pennsylvania

Millersburg PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Millersburg PA could initially feel like a challenging task. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. Once they have identified some local colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Millersburg PA

cat with cone after surgery in Millersburg PA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can perform within the Millersburg PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and typically obtain 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 vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Millersburg PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Millersburg

student attending online vet tech school in Millersburg PA An approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Millersburg PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, such as for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure 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 clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Millersburg PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Millersburg PA vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Millersburg PA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 gone through a rigorous screening process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Millersburg PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies 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 recommendation, phone some Millersburg PA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Millersburg PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Millersburg PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Millersburg PA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Millersburg PA home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate 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. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

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

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Millersburg PA?

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

Millersburg, Pennsylvania

Millersburg is located in northwestern Dauphin County on the east bank of the Susquehanna River at 40°32′30″N 76°57′26″W / 40.54167°N 76.95722°W / 40.54167; -76.95722 (40.541676, -76.957283).[4]Wiconisco Creek enters the Susquehanna at the southern edge of the borough. According to the United States Census Bureau, Millersburg has a total area of 0.76 square miles (1.97 km2), all of it land.[3]

Millersburg is the southwestern terminus of U.S. Route 209, which leads northeast 44 miles (71 km) to Pottsville and 211 miles (340 km) to its northeastern terminus north of Kingston, New York. Pennsylvania Route 147 passes through the center of Millersburg as Market Street, leading north (upriver) 29 miles (47 km) to Sunbury and south (downriver) 13 miles (21 km) to U.S. Route 22 near Duncannon. The Millersburg Ferry leads west across the Susquehanna to Buffalo Township in Perry County, allowing a connection to U.S. Routes 11 and 15.

During the spring of 1790, Daniel Miller and his brother, John were traveling north along the Susquehanna River. When they arrived at the north side of Berry's Mountain, tradition has it, Daniel was so taken with the beauty of the area where the Wiconisco Creek joined with the Susquehanna that he resolved to purchase the land at that location. On June 2, 1790, Miller received a deed for 979-1/4 acres at the mouth of the Wiconisco Creek from William Von Phul of Philadelphia, the owner of the land upon which Millersburg is now situated.

Choose the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Millersburg PA

Millersburg PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for 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 best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Millersburg PA.