Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Norristown PA

How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Norristown Pennsylvania

Norristown PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Norristown PA could at first seem like a challenging task. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have identified some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Norristown PA

cat with cone after surgery in Norristown PA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Norristown PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most 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 community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex 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 animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. So 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Norristown

student attending online vet tech school in Norristown PA An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Norristown PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for example for travel and study supplies, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Norristown PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Norristown PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Norristown PA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 thorough screening 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 obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Norristown PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers 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 concerning your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Norristown PA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Norristown PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical 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 may also help establish connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Norristown PA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Norristown PA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Norristown PA home, you need to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, 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 close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Norristown PA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Norristown PA?

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

Norristown, Pennsylvania

Norristown is a borough (with home rule status) in and the county seat of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States.[3] Located along the Schuylkill River approximately six miles from the Philadelphia city limits, Norristown has a population of 34,324 as of the 2010 U.S. Census. It is the fourth most populous municipality in the county and second most populous borough in Pennsylvania.[4]

Named the county seat in 1784 when Montgomery County was formed, Norristown was incorporated as a borough in 1812 and subsequently enlarged in 1853. About 500 people lived there at the time of its incorporation. Growing rapidly after the Civil War, it swelled to 22,265 people by 1900 and by 1940 it was home to 38,181 Norristonians, making it the most populous borough in Pennsylvania before declining in the decades after World War II.

At its height, Norristown was an industrial, retail, banking, and government center. Breweries, cigar factories, textile mills, icehouses, foundries, rolling mills, and lumber yards provided ample employment for skilled laborers and artisans.[5] The downtown featured two department stores, several theaters, and enough goods and services that residents never had to leave town to find anything they needed.[6] Although primarily settled by the English and a handful of Germans, Scots, Dutch, and Swedes, in the mid-1800s the Irish began arriving in large numbers, followed by waves of Italians at the turn of the century.[7]

Pick the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Norristown PA

Norristown PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Norristown PA.