Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools South Sterling PA

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near South Sterling Pennsylvania

South Sterling PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near South Sterling PA could at first feel like a daunting task. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. Once they have found some area schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in South Sterling PA

cat with cone after surgery in South Sterling PA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the South Sterling PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably 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 vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. 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 job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in South Sterling

student attending online vet tech school in South Sterling PA An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local South Sterling PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask South Sterling PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask South Sterling PA vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the South Sterling PA area and across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of South Sterling PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating 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 infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some South Sterling PA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with South Sterling PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the South Sterling PA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the South Sterling PA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students relating to 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 Campus Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your South Sterling PA home, you have to make sure 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the vet schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near South Sterling PA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near South Sterling PA?

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

Pennsylvania Route 423

Pennsylvania Route 423 (PA 423) is a state route in Monroe and Wayne Counties in Pennsylvania. It runs for 14.32 miles (23.05 km), crossing through the Pocono Mountains from PA 940 in Pocono Pines to PA 191 in South Sterling. The route runs southwest-northeast through forested areas of the Pocono Mountains as a two-lane undivided road. In Tobyhanna, PA 423 has an interchange with Interstate 380 (I-380) and an intersection with PA 611. Farther northeast, the route crosses PA 196 in Gouldsboro. PA 490 was designated in 1928 to run from U.S. Route 611 (US 611) in Tobyhanna northeast to PA 90 (now PA 191) in Laanna. In the 1930s, the route was extended and realigned to run from PA 940 in Pocono Pines to PA 90 in South Sterling. PA 490 became PA 423 in the 1960s.

PA 423 begins at an intersection with PA 940 in the community of Pocono Pines. The route heads northbound as Warnertown Road, progressing around the shores of Lake Naomi. The surroundings of the highway are primarily residential. Just after the intersection with Firehouse Road in Pocono Pines, the road turns eastward along the westernmost shore of Lake Naomi. After PA 423 leaves the shoreline, it turns northward and continues through the residential hills north of the lake. The highway passes through a small community named Lake Naomi Estates. It soon passes a local school and leaves Lake Naomi Estates. The surroundings become woodlands as PA 423 darts northwest and soon to the northeast. The two-lane highway maintains the northeast progression through forests until turning north and crossing a creek. There it turns eastward and returns northeastward for several miles and after several changes enters the community of Warnertown. Just after crossing the small community, PA 423 enters an interchange with I-380.[2]

After crossing the interchange with I-380, PA 423 heads eastward and enters an at-grade intersection with PA 611 in Tobyhanna. The road is renamed to Prospect Street and enters downtown Tobyhanna, crossing through a residential stretch. At Main Street, Prospect Street ends and PA 423 turns northward onto Main Street. This does not last, as the designation darts northward on Church Street. Following Church Street out of downtown Tobyhanna, PA 423 crosses the Delaware–Lackawanna Railroad, passing the former Tobyhanna Station and interlocking tower for the switch to the Tobyhanna Army Depot. The highway continues north of the tracks and along the side of the Army Depot into a rural portion of Tobyhanna. The name changes from Church Street to Tobyhanna State Park Road, entering the namesake park near Tobyhanna Lake. PA 423 passes the dam attached at the end of the lake, and crosses along the side of the park. After passing the state campground entrance, the highway heads eastward through a stretch of woodlands, crossing and passing two routes of power lines. After passing to the north of a large residential complex, the highway intersects with PA 196 in Gouldsboro.[2]

Enroll in the Best Veterinary Technician Program near South Sterling PA

South Sterling PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you select 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 assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in South Sterling PA.