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How to Select a Vet Tech School near Oreland Pennsylvania

Oreland PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Oreland PA may initially feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. Once they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Oreland PA

cat with cone after surgery in Oreland PA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty 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 tasks that they can carry out within the Oreland PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed 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 vocational 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. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and typically acquire a 2 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 basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Oreland

student attending online vet tech school in Oreland PA An option that might 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 program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Oreland PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Oreland PA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Oreland PA vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Oreland PA area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential 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 want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, 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 essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a precondition for employment for many Oreland PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Oreland PA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Oreland PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Oreland PA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate 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 bigger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Oreland PA schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to 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 School Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Oreland PA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Oreland PA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Oreland PA?

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

Oreland, Pennsylvania

Oreland is a United States census-designated place (CDP) in Springfield and Upper Dublin townships, just outside the Chestnut Hill and Mount Airy areas of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Oreland has a ZIP code of 19075, and the population was 5,678 at the 2010 census.

In 1686, Thomas Fitzwater discovered vast lime deposits on his land in Oreland. He erected a kiln to process it, which by 1693 had attracted the attention of William Penn. Penn ordered a highway built from the port of the Delaware River to the kiln. Named Limekiln Pike, and still in existence today, it was one of the first roads in the area. These lime deposits and the ore deposits also found in the area gave Oreland its name. Mining and farming would dominate Oreland's economy until the 20th century, when Oreland transformed into a residential suburb of Philadelphia, as it remains today.

The village of Oreland was not laid out until 1889 near the North Penn Railroad running along the east side of town (currently SEPTA's Lansdale/Doylestown Line). The Plymouth Railroad ran from Conshohocken to Oreland through Plymouth and Flourtown. The tracks were mostly removed in the 1980s. The path where the trains used to run begins northeast of the Oreland Station Apartments, next to Ehrenpfort Road, and runs southwest towards Flourtown. The actual tracks, which still connect to SEPTA's Lansdale/Doylestown Line, end near the corner of Montgomery Avenue and Lyster Road. The path continues all the way to Flourtown, although in the 1990s the path was cut at Oreland Mill Road by housing built on both sides. The remainder of the path today is used primarily by children, runners and bikers.

Select the Right Vet Tech College near Oreland PA

Oreland PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech colleges must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you pick 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 included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the best school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Oreland PA.