How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Pittsburgh Pennsylvania

Achieving your long term goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Pittsburgh PA could at first seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. Once they have found some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Pittsburgh PA 

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Pittsburgh PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic 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 involved duties, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Pittsburgh

An approach that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Pittsburgh PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for travel and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. 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 included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Pittsburgh PA Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Pittsburgh PA area and across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier 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 verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Pittsburgh PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation?  The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Pittsburgh PA vet clinics that you may wish 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 there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Pittsburgh PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program?  Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Pittsburgh PA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Pittsburgh PA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning 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?  Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Pittsburgh PA home, you have to 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 commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it’s important that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Pittsburgh PA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Pittsburgh PA?

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

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Pittsburgh PA

Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Pittsburgh PA.

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