Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Sharon Hill PA

How to Find the Right Vet Tech School near Sharon Hill Pennsylvania

Sharon Hill PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Sharon Hill PA could at first feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Sharon Hill PA

cat with cone after surgery in Sharon Hill PA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Sharon Hill PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as 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 almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Sharon Hill

student attending online vet tech school in Sharon Hill PA An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Sharon Hill PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, such as for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect option for you.

Things to Ask Sharon Hill PA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Sharon Hill PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Sharon Hill PA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for many Sharon Hill PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Sharon Hill PA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Sharon Hill PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Sharon Hill PA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Sharon Hill PA programs you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Sharon Hill PA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Sharon Hill PA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or 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 might miss due to work, illness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Sharon Hill PA?

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

Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania

The Government of Sharon Hill operates under the Pennsylvania State Borough Code. The day to day operations of the borough are exercised through the Borough Manager who is currently Steve Travers. The Mayor of the Borough is Harry Dunfee. The borough currently has a total of 8 Councilmembers.

Sharon Hill is located in eastern Delaware County at 39°54′23″N 75°16′16″W / 39.90639°N 75.27111°W / 39.90639; -75.27111 (39.906340, -75.271008).[4] It is bordered to the west by Folcroft, to the north by Collingdale and Darby, to the east by Colwyn, and to the south by Darby Township. U.S. Route 13 (Chester Pike) is the main road through the borough, leading northeast 8 miles (13 km) to Center City Philadelphia and southwest 6 miles (10 km) to Chester.

As of Census 2010, the racial makeup of the borough was 32.6% White, 60.6% African American, 0.3% Native American, 2.1% Asian, 0.7% from other races, and 3.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 3.2% of the population [1].

Choose the Ideal Vet Tech Program near Sharon Hill PA

Sharon Hill PA vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important 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 colleges 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 ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Sharon Hill PA.