Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Pocono Pines PA

How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Pocono Pines Pennsylvania

Pocono Pines PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Pocono Pines PA may at first seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will deliver the proper training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Pocono Pines PA

cat with cone after surgery in Pocono Pines PA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Pocono Pines PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, 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 completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher 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.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Pocono Pines PA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Pocono Pines

student attending online vet tech school in Pocono Pines PA An approach that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Pocono Pines PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Pocono Pines PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Pocono Pines PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinary credential 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 veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Pocono Pines PA area and across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician program 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). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Pocono Pines PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Pocono Pines PA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Pocono Pines PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate might mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus 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 ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Pocono Pines PA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Pocono Pines PA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Pocono Pines PA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, 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 close by or within a larger city. In addition, 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 state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Pocono Pines PA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Pocono Pines PA?

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

Pocono Pines, Pennsylvania

Pocono Pines is located at 41°6′54″N 75°27′37″W / 41.11500°N 75.46028°W / 41.11500; -75.46028 (41.114976, -75.460408).[1] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 4.4 square miles (11 km2), of which, 4.0 square miles (10 km2) of it is land and 0.4 square miles (1.0 km2) of it (9.95%) is water.

Pocono Pines is located in the heart of the Pocono Mountains and is home to the communities of Lake Naomi and Pinecrest Lake. Most of the land was originally owned by the Miller family. Frank C. Miller, his brother Rufus W. Miller, and others, bought lands on Tunkhannock Creek in Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County, Pennsylvania, organized a corporation known as the Pocono Spring Water Ice Company sometime in the 1890s. In September 1895, a 14-foot (4.3 m) dam was constructed across the creek and water began backing-up forming "Lake Naomi", a lake more than a mile long and about one-third of a mile wide. The Ice Company was granted a 99-year lease for "the exclusive use of the water and its privileges." It was chartered for the purpose of "erecting a dam, for pleasure, boating, skating, fishing and the cutting, storing and selling of ice."

In 1902, visitors came from many of the surrounding metropolitan areas including New York City and Philadelphia. In the same year the first bathing beach was created and some lots on the north side of the lake were subdivided and sold to summer cottagers. A sailing camp for girls was set up on the northwest side of the lake. A Lutheran retreat, Lutherland, was erected on the southern side of the lake. The Millers and others utilized southern and eastern sides of the lake for swimming, sailing, skating, fishing. In 1921, a boathouse and beach were constructed on the site of today's Lake Naomi Clubhouse. In 1938, a famous Pennsylvania Supreme Court case took place over who owned the water rights to Lake Naomi, as the surrounding lands were soon owned by many different parties. See Miller v. Lutheran Conference & Camp Ass'n, 331 Pa. 241 (Pa. 1938).

Choose the Best Vet Tech College near Pocono Pines PA

Pocono Pines PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Pocono Pines PA.