Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Philadelphia PA

How to Choose a Vet Tech Program near Philadelphia Pennsylvania

Philadelphia PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Philadelphia PA might initially feel like a daunting task. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the best choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. Once they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Philadelphia PA

cat with cone after surgery in Philadelphia PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Philadelphia PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years. So 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 work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Philadelphia

student attending online vet tech school in Philadelphia PA An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Philadelphia PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, such as for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. 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 independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Philadelphia PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Philadelphia PA vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Philadelphia PA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Philadelphia PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online 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 suggestion, phone some Philadelphia PA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Philadelphia PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Philadelphia PA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low 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 larger sized, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Philadelphia PA schools you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Philadelphia PA home, you must confirm 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Philadelphia PA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Philadelphia PA?

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

Philadelphia

Philadelphia, sometimes known colloquially as Philly, is the largest city in the U.S. state and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the sixth-most populous U.S. city, with a 2017 census-estimated population of 1,580,863.[6]Since 1854, the city has been coterminous with Philadelphia County, the most populous county in Pennsylvania and the urban core of the eighth-largest U.S. metropolitan statistical area, with over 6 million residents as of 2017[update].[4] Philadelphia is also the economic and cultural anchor of the greater Delaware Valley, located along the lower Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, within the Northeast megalopolis. The Delaware Valley's population of 7.2 million ranks it as the eighth-largest combined statistical area in the United States.[5]

William Penn, an English Quaker, founded the city in 1682 to serve as capital of the Pennsylvania Colony.[8] Philadelphia played an instrumental role in the American Revolution as a meeting place for the Founding Fathers of the United States, who signed the Declaration of Independence in 1776 at the Second Continental Congress, and the Constitution at the Philadelphia Convention of 1787. Several other key events occurred in Philadelphia during the Revolutionary War including the First Continental Congress, the preservation of the Liberty Bell, the Battle of Germantown, and the Siege of Fort Mifflin. Philadelphia was one of the nation's capitals during the revolution, and served as temporary U.S. capital while Washington, D.C., was under construction. In the 19th century, Philadelphia became a major industrial center and a railroad hub. The city grew from an influx of European immigrants, most of whom came from Ireland, Italy and Germany—the three largest reported ancestry groups in the city as of 2015[update].[9] In the early 20th century, Philadelphia became a prime destination for African Americans during the Great Migration after the Civil War,[10] as well as Puerto Ricans.[11] The city's population doubled from one million to two million people between 1890 and 1950.

The Philadelphia area's many universities and colleges make it a top study destination, as the city has evolved into an educational and economic hub.[12][13] According to the Bureau of Economic Analysis, the Philadelphia area had a gross domestic product of US$445 billion in 2017, the eighth-largest metropolitan economy in the United States.[14] Philadelphia is the center of economic activity in Pennsylvania and is home to five Fortune 1000 companies. The Philadelphia skyline is expanding, with a market of almost 81,900 commercial properties in 2016,[15] including several nationally prominent skyscrapers.[16] Philadelphia has more outdoor sculptures and murals than any other American city.[17][18]Fairmount Park, when combined with the adjacent Wissahickon Valley Park in the same watershed, is one of the largest contiguous urban park areas in the United States.[19] The city is known for its arts, culture, cuisine, and colonial history, attracting 42 million domestic tourists in 2016 who spent US$6.8 billion, generating an estimated $11 billion in total economic impact in the city and surrounding four counties of Pennsylvania.[20] Philadelphia has also emerged as a biotechnology hub.[21]

Enroll in the Best Veterinary Technician College near Philadelphia PA

Philadelphia PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Philadelphia PA.