Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Penns Park PA

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Penns Park Pennsylvania

Penns Park PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Penns Park PA could at first feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. Once they have found some area colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Penns Park PA

cat with cone after surgery in Penns Park PA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Penns Park PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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. Normally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty 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, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Penns Park

student attending online vet tech school in Penns Park PA An option that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Penns Park PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for travel and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure 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 practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Penns Park PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Penns Park PA vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Penns Park PA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through 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 assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Penns Park PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet 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 grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Penns Park PA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Penns Park PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. 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 exceptional reputation within the Penns Park PA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Penns Park PA schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Penns Park PA home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you ascertain if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Penns Park PA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Penns Park PA?

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

Penns Valley

Penns Valley is an eroded anticlinal valley of the Pennsylvania ridge and valley geologic region of the Appalachian Mountain range. The valley is located in southern Centre County, Pennsylvania. Along with the Nittany Valley to the north and east, it is part of the larger Nittany Anticlinorium.[1] It is bordered by Nittany Mountain to the north, the Seven Mountains range to the south, and connects to the larger Nittany Valley to the west. There are two smaller subordinate valleys typically associated with the greater valley; Georges Valley in the south, separated by Egg Hill, and Brush Valley in the north, separated by Brush Mountain.

The Appalachian Mountain chain was formed starting around 420 million years ago with the collision of the North American craton and the Iapetus Ocean and culminating with the collision of the modern-day eastern seaboard of the then Euramerican continent with Africa, then Gondwana, about 290 million years ago forming the supercontinent Pangea. Since the collision event the mountains have been eroding from the break-up of Pangea and through sedimentation formed the coastal plains to the east and limestone plateaus to the west. The footprints of the mountains formed the ridge and valley geological region in which Penns Valley was formed through glacial and other activity.[2]

More recently the area now known as Penns Valley was discovered by General James Potter in 1764 who trekked through the region and observed the prairies and woodlands of the area and settled at Old Fort, near Centre Hall, in 1774. Upon observing the valley from above he exclaimed, "... I have discovered an empire." Penns Valley also hosts the oldest town of Centre County, Aaronsburg, which was planned out in 1786. At the close of the 18th century Penns Valley was already set aside for farmland, however, the surrounding county rapidly boomed as iron ore was discovered and the first road built by Philadelphia land speculator Reuben Haines brought the rest of Pennsylvania into the heart of Penns Valley terminating at the location of Spring Mills.

Choose the Right Vet Tech College near Penns Park PA

Penns Park PA vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Students considering vet tech programs must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Penns Park PA.