Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Treichlers PA

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Treichlers Pennsylvania

Treichlers PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Treichlers PA might initially seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Treichlers PA

cat with cone after surgery in Treichlers PA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can perform within the Treichlers PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a structured 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 vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years to complete. So the only real difference 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 potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Treichlers

student attending online vet tech school in Treichlers PA An approach that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Treichlers PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. 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 self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Treichlers PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Treichlers PA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you want to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Treichlers PA area and across the United States, you must ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously stated, among 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 review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Treichlers PA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, contact some Treichlers PA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Treichlers PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate may signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Treichlers PA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of 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. Find out from the Treichlers PA colleges you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk 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 discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Treichlers PA home, you have to make certain 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, especially if the school is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Treichlers PA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Treichlers PA?

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

Pennsylvania Route 145

Pennsylvania Route 145 (PA 145) is a 20.89 mi (33.62 km) long north–south state highway in the Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania. It connects Interstate 78 (I-78) and PA 309 in Lanark, Lehigh County to PA 248 in Weiders Crossing, Northampton County. PA 145 is the main north-south arterial into Allentown, the third-largest city in the state. The route enters the city on South 4th Street and follows multiple streets to downtown, where it follows the one-way pair of 6th Street northbound and 7th Street southbound. North of Allentown in Whitehall Township, a seven-mile (11.2 km) portion of PA 145 is known as MacArthur Road, named in honor of General Douglas MacArthur. MacArthur Road is a divided highway; between U.S. Route 22 (US 22) and Eberhart Road, it is six lanes wide with a Jersey barrier and jughandles while the remainder of the road a four-lane divided highway. MacArthur Road is the location of the main commercial center of the Lehigh Valley. North of Eagle Point, PA 145 becomes a two-lane undivided road that parallels the Lehigh River, crossing the river into Northampton County at Treichlers. The route continues along the east bank of the river and passes through Walnutport before reaching its northern terminus. PA 145 is dedicated as the Battle of the Bulge Veterans Memorial Highway in honor of the veterans who fought in the Battle of the Bulge.

The section of road south of downtown Allentown was originally designated as part of US 309 when the U.S. Highway System was established in 1926. Between 1928 and 1930, PA 312 ran concurrent with US 309 on this stretch of road. PA 145 was first designated in 1928 between intersections with PA 45 (now PA 248) in Weiders Crossing and Bath, heading south to Cementon before turning east to Bath. A portion of PA 329 was designated between Cementon and Allentown along Coplay Road, Mickley Pike, and 7th Street, ending at US 22, US 309, PA 29, and PA 43 at 7th and Hamilton streets. The Seventh Street Pike was built between the 1920s and 1941 as a straight north-south road in Whitehall Township; PA 329 was relocated onto it in the 1930s. In 1941, PA 145 and PA 329 switched alignments, with PA 145 heading south along Seventh Street Pike and 7th Street to US 22/US 309/PA 29 at Tilghman Street in Allentown and PA 329 heading east to Bath. Seventh Street Pike was renamed to MacArthur Road in the early 1950s. In the 1950s, the southern terminus of PA 145 was cut back to the US 22 freeway in Whitehall Township and US 309 and PA 29 were rerouted to bypass Allentown. The MacArthur Road section of PA 145 was widened into a divided highway in 1970. In the 1980s, a proposal was made to extend PA 145 and US 222 through Allentown to provide numbered routes in the city. PA 145 was extended south to its current terminus by 1991.

PA 145 begins at an interchange with I-78 at exit 60 and PA 309 in the community of Lanark in Upper Saucon Township, Lehigh County. South of this interchange, the roadway continues southeast as part of PA 309 while northbound PA 309 heads west along I-78. From this interchange, PA 145 heads northwest on South Pike Avenue, a divided highway with two northbound lanes and one southbound lane. The road becomes undivided at the Vera Cruz Road/Oakhurst Derive intersection and ascends South Mountain with S-curves, passing through forested areas with some homes. The route reaches the community of Summit Lawn at the peak of South Mountain, where it intersects Rock Road, which heads southwest to provide access to westbound I-78/northbound PA 309. Here, PA 145 turns north and enters Salisbury Township, where it descends the mountain with one northbound lane and two southbound lanes through forests with a few residences. At the base of South Mountain, the route heads into the city of Allentown and becomes South 4th Street, heading into residential areas. The road crosses Emaus Avenue and narrows to two lanes, running north-northwest past businesses as it heads into the Mountainville neighborhood. PA 145 continues past homes and businesses, curving to the north as it passes to the east of a shopping center. After passing through the Mountainville neighborhood, the route turns west onto Susquehanna Street and passes over Norfolk Southern's Reading Line and Trout Creek.[2][3]

Choose the Ideal Vet Tech School near Treichlers PA

Treichlers PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Treichlers PA.