Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Stockertown PA

How to Select a Vet Tech Program near Stockertown Pennsylvania

Stockertown PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Stockertown PA could initially seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the best choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have identified some local colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Stockertown PA

cat with cone after surgery in Stockertown PA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can carry out within the Stockertown PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. So 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 work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Stockertown PA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Stockertown

student attending online vet tech school in Stockertown PA An option that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Stockertown 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 expenditures, such as for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Stockertown PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Stockertown PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Stockertown PA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Stockertown PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Stockertown PA veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Stockertown PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Stockertown PA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify 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 bigger, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Stockertown PA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Stockertown PA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you find out if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Stockertown PA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Stockertown PA?

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

Stockertown, Pennsylvania

The small borough contains large industries such as Hercules Cement, Polymer Products, and Praxair. The borough is located within a 21⁄2-mile radius and provides services for a population of 927 residents. Stockertown is at the hub of five surrounding second-class townships, and until the Charles Chrin Interchange was built near Tatamy in 2015, provided the closest access to Pennsylvania Route 33 for many industrial parks in these townships.[3] Since 2006, Forks Township has been contracted to provide fire services to the borough,[4] and the borough maintains its own police department. It is located in Pennsylvania's 17th Congressional District, and in Pennsylvania's 137th (State House of Representatives) and 18th (State Senate) Legislative Districts.[5]

The Borough of Stockertown was named for the Stockers, a Swiss family who settled on the land in the late 18th century.[7] The post village was referred to as Stockersville as of 1845, and described as a very fertile area.[8] In late 1900, by which time the village was being called Stockertown, a group of the village's citizens petitioned Northampton County Court to grant the community the status of a borough. That petition was granted and, early in 1901, the Borough government was organized.

In 1906, a cement plant (which later became Hercules Cement) was constructed as The Nazareth Works of Atlantic Portland Cement Company. It acquired the name of Hercules Cement Company in 1916 after its holdings after Atlantic Portland Cement filed for bankruptcy. It has changed owners many times through mergers, and as of 2008 is owned by Buzzi Unicem.

Select the Ideal Vet Tech College near Stockertown PA

Stockertown PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech schools must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Stockertown PA.