Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools State College PA

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech School near State College Pennsylvania

State College PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near State College PA might initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. After they have found some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in State College PA

cat with cone after surgery in State College PA Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can carry out within the State College PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically 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 more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in State College

student attending online vet tech school in State College PA An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can study 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 most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local State College PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask State College PA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask State College PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the State College PA area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously 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 rigorous screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential 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 degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of State College PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing 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 agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some State College PA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with State College PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the State College PA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the State College PA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your State College PA home, you need 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, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you determine if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near State College PA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near State College PA?

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

State College, Pennsylvania

State College is a home rule municipality in Centre County in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the largest designated borough in Pennsylvania.[4] It is the principal borough of the six municipalities that make up the State College area, the largest settlement in Centre County and one of the principal cities of the greater State College-DuBois Combined Statistical Area with a combined population of 236,577 as of the 2010 United States Census. In the 2010 census, the borough population was 42,034 with approximately 105,000 living in the borough plus the surrounding townships often referred to locally as the "Centre Region." Many of these Centre Region communities also carry a "State College, PA" address although are not part of the borough of State College.[4]

State College is a college town, dominated economically and demographically by the presence of the University Park campus of the Pennsylvania State University (Penn State). Lion Country is another used term to refer to the State College area, the term also includes the borough and the townships of College, Harris, Patton, and Ferguson. When including college and graduate students, State College is the third most populous city in Pennsylvania, after Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.

State College evolved from a village to a town in order to serve the needs of the Pennsylvania State College, founded as the Farmers' High School of Pennsylvania in 1855. State College was incorporated as a borough on August 29, 1896, and has grown with the college, which was renamed The Pennsylvania State University in 1953.

Pick the Ideal Vet Tech Program near State College PA

State College PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students thinking about vet tech programs must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities 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 outstanding reputation within the profession. 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 reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in State College PA.