How to Enroll In a Vet Tech Program near Oakmont Pennsylvania

Achieving your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Oakmont PA could at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. Once they have identified some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article in order 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 Function of a Vet Tech in Oakmont PA 

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Oakmont PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each position.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in  Oakmont PA laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Oakmont

An option that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Oakmont PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for commuting and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Oakmont PA Vet Tech Schools

At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Oakmont PA area and across the Country, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It’s essential that you confirm that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 undergone an extensive review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Oakmont PA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation?  The vet college or trade school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Oakmont PA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Oakmont PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Oakmont PA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Oakmont PA schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located?  Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Oakmont PA home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide 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 online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it’s important that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are looking at 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 Oakmont PA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family issues. 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 Oakmont PA?

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

Select the Ideal Veterinary Technician College near Oakmont PA

Picking the right vet tech college is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Oakmont PA.

Other Doggone Good Cities in Pennsylvania

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Dysart PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Chambersburg PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Howard PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools North Bend PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Strabane PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Mount Pleasant Mills PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Danboro PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Tower City PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Wilcox PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Pennsylvania Furnace PA