How to Find the Right Vet Tech Program near Valley Forge Pennsylvania

Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Valley Forge PA may initially seem like a challenging task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the proper selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. When they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied roles of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Valley Forge PA 

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can perform within the Valley Forge PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Valley Forge

An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Valley Forge PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided 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 right option for you.

Things to Ask Valley Forge PA Vet Tech Colleges

By now you probably have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Valley Forge PA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It’s imperative that you verify that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Valley Forge PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking 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 regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Valley Forge PA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Valley Forge PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program?  Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Valley Forge PA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Valley Forge PA colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Okay, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Valley Forge PA home, you have to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Valley Forge PA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Valley Forge PA?

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

Select the Right Vet Tech Program near Valley Forge PA

Picking the right veterinary technician college is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students considering vet tech colleges must make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Valley Forge PA.

Other Doggone Good Cities in Pennsylvania

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Monaca PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Aultman PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Lumberville PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Ambridge PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Fawn Grove PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Tionesta PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Levittown PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Nineveh PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Newville PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Kresgeville PA