Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Old Zionsville PA

How to Pick a Vet Tech Program near Old Zionsville Pennsylvania

Old Zionsville PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Old Zionsville PA might at first seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the right selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. Once they have identified some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at 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 options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Old Zionsville PA

cat with cone after surgery in Old Zionsville PA Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can perform within the Old Zionsville PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a formal 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 techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased 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 Old Zionsville PA labs or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Old Zionsville

student attending online vet tech school in Old Zionsville PA An approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Old Zionsville PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, such as for travel and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school 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 comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Old Zionsville PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Old Zionsville PA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Old Zionsville PA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech school you enroll in 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for many Old Zionsville PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Old Zionsville PA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Old Zionsville PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Old Zionsville PA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Old Zionsville PA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Old Zionsville PA home, you have to 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 campus is located close by or within a larger 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 particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Old Zionsville PA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Old Zionsville PA?

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

Upper Milford Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 17.9 square miles (46.4 km2), all of it land. A large portion of the township is located in the South Mountains, and elevations in the township range from approximately 400 to 1,000 feet above sea level. Upper Milford is in the Delaware watershed and is drained by the Little Lehigh Creek and Saucon Creek into the Lehigh River and by the Perkiomen Creek into the Schuylkill River.

While there are no large towns in the township, its most prominent villages are Old Zionsville, Powder Valley, Shimerville, Vera Cruz, and Zionsville (also in Lower Milford Township.) Dillinger is a small village in eastern Upper Milford and Corning (also in Lower Milford Township) and Sigmund (home to Victory Valley Bible Camp) are small villages in southwestern Upper Milford.

As of the census[4] of 2000, there were 6,889 people, 2,514 households, and 2,021 families residing in the township. The population density was 384.7 people per square mile (148.5/km2). There were 2,576 housing units at an average density of 143.9/sq mi (55.5/km2). The racial makeup of the township was 98.30% White, 0.16% African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.68% Asian, 0.20% from other races, and 0.57% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.02% of the population.

Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech School near Old Zionsville PA

Old Zionsville PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech college is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students considering vet tech programs must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Old Zionsville PA.