Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Slickville PA

How to Choose a Vet Tech Program near Slickville Pennsylvania

Slickville PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Slickville PA could initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the ideal selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have found some local colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Slickville PA

cat with cone after surgery in Slickville PA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can carry out within the Slickville PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. 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 apprentice or intern 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 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. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Slickville

student attending online vet tech school in Slickville PA An option that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Slickville PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for commuting and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Slickville PA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Slickville PA vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Slickville PA area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Slickville PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Slickville PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Slickville PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Slickville PA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean 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 may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Slickville PA schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Slickville PA home, you have to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may 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 determine if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Slickville PA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Slickville PA?

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

Slickville, Pennsylvania

As of the census[2] of 2000, there were 372 people, 157 households, and 105 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 757.5 people per square mile (293.1/km²). There were 162 housing units at an average density of 329.9/sq mi (127.7/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.66% White and 1.34% African American. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.08% of the population.

There were 157 households out of which 28.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 59.9% were married couples living together, 3.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 32.5% were non-families. 28.0% of all households were made up of individuals and 17.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.37 and the average family size was 2.92.

In the CDP, the population was spread out with 22.0% under the age of 18, 4.3% from 18 to 24, 28.0% from 25 to 44, 23.1% from 45 to 64, and 22.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 42 years. For every 100 females, there were 96.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.9 males.

Select the Best Vet Tech School near Slickville PA

Slickville PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the right veterinary technician program is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their selection 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 tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Slickville PA.