Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Scranton PA - Find Vet Tech Schools Near You

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician Program near Scranton Pennsylvania

Scranton PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Scranton PA might initially seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a program that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. When they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Scranton PA

cat with cone after surgery in Scranton PA Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Scranton PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal 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 vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental 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 involved activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Scranton

student attending online vet tech school in Scranton PA An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available 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 most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Scranton PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Scranton PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Scranton PA vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Scranton PA area and across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for many Scranton PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on 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 complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Scranton PA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Scranton PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A lower rate may indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Scranton PA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Scranton PA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Scranton PA home, you must make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you find out if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Scranton PA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Scranton PA?

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

Scranton, Pennsylvania

Scranton is the sixth-largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Lackawanna County in Northeastern Pennsylvania's Wyoming Valley and hosts a federal court building. With a population of 77,291, it is the largest city in the Scranton–Wilkes-Barre–Hazleton, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of about 570,000.[4]

Scranton is the geographic and cultural center of the Lackawanna River valley, and the largest of the former anthracite coal mining communities in a contiguous quilt-work that also includes Wilkes-Barre, Nanticoke, Pittston, and Carbondale. Scranton was incorporated on February 14, 1856, as a borough in Luzerne County and as a city on April 23, 1866. It became a major industrial city, a center of mining and railroads, and attracted thousands of new immigrants. It was the site of the Scranton General Strike in 1877.

People in northern Luzerne County sought a new county in 1839 but the Wilkes-Barre area resisted losing its assets. Lackawanna County did not gain independent status until 1878. Under legislation allowing the issue to be voted by residents of the proposed territory, voters favored the new county by a proportion of 6 to 1, with Scranton residents providing the major support. The city was designated as the county seat when Lackawanna County was established in 1878, and a judicial district was authorized in 1879.

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Scranton PA

Scranton PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and support 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 outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Scranton PA.