Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Trexlertown PA

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Trexlertown Pennsylvania

Trexlertown PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Trexlertown PA might at first feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the proper selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. After they have identified some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make a final choice. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Trexlertown PA

cat with cone after surgery in Trexlertown PA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Trexlertown PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed 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 vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and usually obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Trexlertown

student attending online vet tech school in Trexlertown PA An option that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Trexlertown PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for example for travel and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal choice for you.

Questions to Ask Trexlertown PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Trexlertown PA vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you want 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 Trexlertown PA area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that confirms 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 colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Trexlertown PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Trexlertown PA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Trexlertown PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate could indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Trexlertown PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Trexlertown PA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Trexlertown PA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into 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, especially if the campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you ascertain if the vet schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Trexlertown PA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Trexlertown PA?

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

Trexlertown, Pennsylvania

Trexlertown (also Trexlerstown[1]) is a census-designated place in Upper Macungie Township, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, United States. It lies in the Lehigh Valley between Breinigsville and Wescosville. As of the 2010 census the population was 1,988 residents.

Jeremiah Trexler obtained land adjoining that of his father in Upper Macungie Township, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where he kept a tavern as early as in 1732. In 1734 a road was laid out from his tavern through North Wales in now Montgomery County to Philadelphia. As was the custom of the time, a village grew around the tavern, which came to be known as Trexlertown.[2]

Pick the Ideal Vet Tech School near Trexlertown PA

Trexlertown PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal veterinary technician college is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their selection 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 animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important 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 programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Trexlertown PA.