Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Silverdale PA

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Silverdale Pennsylvania

Silverdale PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Silverdale PA might initially seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. After they have found some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when evaluating vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have presented several within 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 options available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Silverdale PA

cat with cone after surgery in Silverdale PA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Silverdale PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. 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 activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function 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 functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Silverdale

student attending online vet tech school in Silverdale PA An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Silverdale PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for commuting and study materials, can 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 provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Silverdale PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Silverdale PA vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Silverdale PA area and across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among 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 applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Silverdale PA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Silverdale PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Silverdale PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate could suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Silverdale PA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Silverdale PA colleges you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Silverdale PA home, you have to make sure that the commuting 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 campus is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Silverdale PA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Silverdale PA?

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

Silverdale, Pennsylvania

As of the 2010 census, the borough was 97.2% White, 0.8% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 0.1% Asian, and 0.3% were two or more races. 1.4% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[7]

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 1,001 people, 323 households, and 264 families residing in the borough. The population density was 2,220.0 people per square mile (858.9/km²). There were 329 housing units at an average density of 729.7 per square mile (282.3/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 99.00% White, 0.20% African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.10% Asian, 0.30% from other races, and 0.30% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.80% of the population.

There were 323 households, out of which 48.9% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 73.4% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 18.0% were non-families. 13.0% of all households were made up of individuals, and 4.3% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.08 and the average family size was 3.45.

Enroll in the Right Vet Tech School near Silverdale PA

Silverdale PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Silverdale PA.