Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Shavertown PA

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Shavertown Pennsylvania

Shavertown PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Shavertown PA may initially seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have 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 assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the right selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. When they have identified some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant 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 should be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Shavertown PA

cat with cone after surgery in Shavertown PA Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Shavertown PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade 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 involved with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. 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 get more advanced training compared with assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. Therefore the only real 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 opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Shavertown PA laboratories or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Shavertown

student attending online vet tech school in Shavertown PA An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Shavertown PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Shavertown PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Shavertown PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish 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, technical and vocational schools in the Shavertown PA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for many Shavertown PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Shavertown PA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Shavertown PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate may indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Shavertown PA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Shavertown PA schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding 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? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Shavertown PA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or near a larger 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 particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you find out if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Shavertown PA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Shavertown PA?

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

Shavertown, Pennsylvania

Shavertown is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kingston Township, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies approximately 7 miles (11 km) northwest of the city of Wilkes-Barre and 24 miles (39 km) southwest of Scranton. The population of the CDP was 2,019 at the 2010 census.[1]

Shavertown is named for an early settler, Philip Shaver. In 1813, Philip purchased the land that would later become Shavertown from William Trucks, the namesake of Trucksville. That same year, Philip sold the northwest portion of his land to John McClellon. This land would be known as McClellonsville, a small village which was later named Dallas. By 1818, Philip still owned nearly one thousand acres of land in the Back Mountain region.

Philip Shaver was born in 1762 along the Danube River Valley in Vienna, Austria. He migrated to the United States between 1765-1769 with his parents and brothers. Philip Shaver married Mary Ann Wickizer at St. James Lutheran Church (in Greenwich, Warren County, New Jersey, on December 12, 1786). They had 7 children: John Philip, Peter, William G., Elizabeth, James Henry, George, and Asa W. Shaver. Around 1804, Philip and his family arrived in Forty Fort, where they resided until 1810. Philip came to the “Back of the Mountain” in search of a gigantic species of legendary evergreen trees. He was forced to carve out a path from a rugged foot trail and among heavily forested lands, now Route 309. Philip and his sons constructed a sawmill in 1815. This first mill was on the north branch of Toby Creek and located near the Prince of Peace Church on Main Street in Dallas. Philip cut the wood for the first Market Street Bridge in Wilkes-Barre (in 1820).

Enroll in the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Shavertown PA

Shavertown PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the right vet tech school is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs 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 choice. And by selecting the ideal school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Shavertown PA.