Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Silver Spring PA

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Silver Spring Pennsylvania

Silver Spring PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Silver Spring PA could at first feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. When they have found some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when comparing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several within 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 Silver Spring PA

cat with cone after surgery in Silver Spring PA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Silver Spring PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Silver Spring PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Silver Spring

student attending online vet tech school in Silver Spring PA An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Silver Spring PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Silver Spring PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Silver Spring PA vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Silver Spring PA area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want 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 School Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of 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 review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Silver Spring PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Silver Spring PA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Silver Spring PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Silver Spring PA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure 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. Find out from the Silver Spring PA schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Silver Spring PA home, you need to 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 commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend 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. On the other hand, taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you ascertain if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Silver Spring PA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Silver Spring PA?

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

Silver Spring Township, Cumberland County, Pennsylvania

The township is in northeastern Cumberland County and is bordered to the north by Perry County, the border following the ridgecrest of Blue Mountain. The southeast corner of the township borders the borough of Mechanicsburg.

Conodoguinet Creek, a tributary of the Susquehanna River, crosses the center of the township from west to east, making several long bends. Interstate 81 also crosses the center of the township, with access from Exit 57, Pennsylvania Route 114. U.S. Route 11 crosses the township south of I-81, passing through the two main unincorporated communities in the township, Hogestown and New Kingstown. The Pennsylvania Turnpike (Interstate 76) crosses the southwest corner of the township but without any direct access.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the township has a total area of 32.8 square miles (85.0 km2), of which 32.3 square miles (83.7 km2) is land and 0.50 square miles (1.3 km2), or 1.55%, is water.[4]

Choose the Right Vet Tech School near Silver Spring PA

Silver Spring PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech programs need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech programs 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 choosing the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Silver Spring PA.