Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Shrewsbury PA

How to Choose a Vet Tech Program near Shrewsbury Pennsylvania

Shrewsbury PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Shrewsbury PA could at first feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. After they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Shrewsbury PA

cat with cone after surgery in Shrewsbury PA Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Shrewsbury PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases 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 trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually 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 general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Shrewsbury PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Shrewsbury

student attending online vet tech school in Shrewsbury PA An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Shrewsbury PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, such as for commuting and study materials, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Shrewsbury PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Shrewsbury PA vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Shrewsbury PA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Shrewsbury PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Shrewsbury PA vet clinics 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 one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Shrewsbury PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate might signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Shrewsbury PA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Shrewsbury PA programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. 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 School Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Shrewsbury PA home, you must confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a larger 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. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit 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 Shrewsbury PA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Shrewsbury PA?

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

Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 3,378 people, 1,330 households, and 942 families residing in the borough. The population density was 1,916.4 people per square mile (741.1/km²). There were 1,367 housing units at an average density of 775.5 per square mile (299.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97.48% White, 0.80% African American, 0.15% Native American, 0.77% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 0.27% from other races, and 0.38% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.98% of the population.

There were 1,330 households out of which 32.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.4% were married couples living together, 7.1% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.1% were non-families. 26.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.54 and the average family size was 3.08.

In the borough the population was spread out with 25.7% under the age of 18, 6.0% from 18 to 24, 28.5% from 25 to 44, 26.2% from 45 to 64, and 13.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 40 years. For every 100 females there were 92.5 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.7 males.

Choose the Right Vet Tech School near Shrewsbury PA

Shrewsbury PA vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech programs need to make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, 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 goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Shrewsbury PA.