Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Potts Grove PA

How to Select a Vet Tech School near Potts Grove Pennsylvania

Potts Grove PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Potts Grove PA could at first feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a program 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 programs so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their homes. Once they have located some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when comparing vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Potts Grove PA

cat with cone after surgery in Potts Grove PA Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Potts Grove PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. 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 involved with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and normally obtain a two 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 veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated functions, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential 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. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Potts Grove PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Potts Grove

student attending online vet tech school in Potts Grove PA An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Potts Grove PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for commuting and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Potts Grove PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Potts Grove PA vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Potts Grove PA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Potts Grove PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating 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 infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Potts Grove PA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Potts Grove PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Potts Grove PA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly 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 receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Potts Grove PA schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Potts Grove PA home, you have to confirm that the driving time is compatible with 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 choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Potts Grove PA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Potts Grove PA?

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

Pottstown, Pennsylvania

Pottstown is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States about 40 miles (55 km) northwest of Philadelphia and 20 miles (32 km) southeast of Reading, on the Schuylkill River. Pottstown was laid out in 1752–53 and named Pottsgrove in honor of its founder, John Potts. The old name was abandoned at the time of the incorporation as a borough in 1815. In 1888, the limits of the borough were considerably extended. Pottstown is the center of a productive farming and dairying region.

Pottstown's iron and steel interests were once very extensive. There were large rolling mills, furnaces, nail works, textile mills, bridge works, agricultural-implement works, boiler and machine shops, foundries, and manufactories of bricks, silks, shirts, hosiery, etc. In 1900, 13,696 people lived there; in 1910, 15,599; in 1920, 17,431; and in 1940, 20,194. The population was 22,377 at the 2010 census.

Modern-day Pottstown is on land originally deeded to William Penn.[3] Germans, Swedes and English were among the area's first European settlers. After establishment of the first iron forge in 1714, Pottstown's fortunes became tied to the iron industry.

Choose the Right Vet Tech School near Potts Grove PA

Potts Grove PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students considering vet tech programs need to make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support 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 excellent reputation within the field. This applies to 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 selection. And by picking the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Potts Grove PA.