Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools New Freeport PA

How to Find the Right Vet Tech Program near New Freeport Pennsylvania

New Freeport PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near New Freeport PA might initially seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. After they have identified some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final decision. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in New Freeport PA

cat with cone after surgery in New Freeport PA Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the New Freeport PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from 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 execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally acquire a 2 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 basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four 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 career options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in New Freeport PA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in New Freeport

student attending online vet tech school in New Freeport PA An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local New Freeport PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for commuting and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask New Freeport PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask New Freeport PA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the New Freeport PA area and across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected 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 ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many New Freeport PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations 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 tip, call some New Freeport PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with New Freeport PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the New Freeport PA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not well regarded 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 personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the New Freeport PA programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your New Freeport PA home, you must make certain that the commuting 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, 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 increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near New Freeport PA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near New Freeport PA?

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

Freeport, Pennsylvania

Freeport is a borough in Armstrong County in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania; it is situated along the Allegheny River in the southwest corner of the county. The population was 1,813 at the 2010 Census.[3] The first settlement was made at Freeport in the 1760s.[4] Freeport received its name from David Todd, who declared it a free and open port. The borough was incorporated in 1833.[5] Freeport was a port on the former Pennsylvania Canal.[6]

Freeport is located at 40°40′28″N 79°41′11″W / 40.67444°N 79.68639°W / 40.67444; -79.68639 (40.674337, -79.686320).[7] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.3 square miles (3.4 km2), of which 1.3 square miles (3.3 km2) is land and 0.039 square miles (0.1 km2), or 2.20%, is water.[3]

As of the census[11] of 2000, there were 1,962 people, 878 households, and 532 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,697.9 people per square mile (653.0/km²). There were 944 housing units at an average density of 816.9 per square mile (314.2/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.42% White, 0.25% African American, 0.25% Asian, 0.05% Pacific Islander, 0.41% from other races, and 0.61% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.46% of the population.

Pick the Ideal Veterinary Technician Program near New Freeport PA

New Freeport PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients 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 schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices 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 New Freeport PA.