Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Unityville PA

How to Choose a Vet Tech Program near Unityville Pennsylvania

Unityville PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Unityville PA may at first seem like a daunting task. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have found some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers 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 veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Unityville PA

cat with cone after surgery in Unityville PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Unityville PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. Therefore 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 career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Unityville

student attending online vet tech school in Unityville PA An alternative that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Unityville 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 expenditures, for instance for traveling and study supplies, may be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Unityville PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Unityville PA vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to attain, and if you prefer 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 Unityville PA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously 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 demanding screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many Unityville PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Unityville PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Unityville PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Unityville PA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate 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 larger sized, you probably will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Unityville PA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Unityville PA home, you have to confirm that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, 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 near or in a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Unityville PA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Unityville PA?

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

Pennsylvania Route 118

Pennsylvania Route 118 (PA 118) is a 42.248-mile-long (67.992 km) state route located in northeastern Pennsylvania. The western terminus of the route is at PA 405 in Hughesville. The eastern terminus is at PA 415 in Dallas. The road is known briefly as East Water Street from its western terminus to its intersection with 6th Street in Hughesville, where it becomes Lairdsville Road for 12 miles (19 km) until crossing PA 42 near Unityville. It joins PA 487 for one mile (1.6 km) in Red Rock, where it passes through the southern part of Ricketts Glen State Park. In 1928, the road between Hughesville and Unityville was designated as part of PA 642 while the portion between Red Rock and Lehman was designated as a portion of PA 115. PA 642 was extended from PA 42 in Unityville to PA 539 in the 1940s. During the 1950s, PA 115 was rerouted from Red Rock to head west and replace PA 642 to Hughesville. PA 115 was also realigned to run between Lehman and Dallas. In 1961, PA 118 replaced the portion of PA 115 between Hughesville and Dallas.

Route 118 begins at an intersection with PA 405 (Main Street) in the center of Hughesville in Lycoming County. The route progresses southeastward through the borough as East Water Street. The local street crosses a long stretch of commercial businesses before reaching North Fifth Street, where it turns to the east and crosses over Muncy Creek. After crossing the river, PA 118 changes names to Lairdville Road and the surroundings become residential. The route there turns to the southeast once again, paralleling a long distance with Gregg Run Road. The surroundings quickly change to farmland, and PA 118 continues east through woodlands that begins soon after. At the intersection with Old Lairdsville Road, the route turns to the northeast until a short clearing, where the highway intersects with L Harman Road. At that intersection, the route turns to the southeast once again.[3]

Heading through now Moreland Township, the woodlands soon give way in favor of open fields, where the route intersects with Neuhard and Stan Warn Roads. There, PA 118 turns even further to the southeast and makes a large bend to the northeast later on, where the highway enters the hamlet of Frenchtown. The highway leaves the rural hamlet to the northeast, paralleling Old Lairdsville Road, which soon merges back in. The highway continues, leaving the fields for more woodlands, paralleling an old alignment of PA 118. A short distance after the old alignment stops paralleling, PA 118 breaks free of the woodlands in favor of the village of Lairdsville. Through Lairdsville, the highway passes a long stretch of residential homes and intersects with Dark Hollow Road. At Dark Hollow Road, PA 118 leaves Lairdsville and enters the rural segments of Franklin Township.[3]

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Unityville PA

Unityville PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs need to 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 usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Unityville PA.