Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Wallingford PA

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Wallingford Pennsylvania

Wallingford PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Wallingford PA could initially seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. After they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important factors when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Wallingford PA

cat with cone after surgery in Wallingford PA Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Wallingford PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and usually earn a two 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 involved duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. So 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 options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Wallingford

student attending online vet tech school in Wallingford PA An option that may make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Wallingford PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Wallingford PA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Wallingford PA vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Wallingford PA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Wallingford PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Wallingford PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Wallingford PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Wallingford PA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Wallingford PA colleges you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to 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? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Wallingford PA home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within 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 costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you find out if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Wallingford PA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Wallingford PA?

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

Wallingford, Pennsylvania

Wallingford is an unincorporated community in Nether Providence Township, Delaware County in Pennsylvania, United States. Founded in 1687, it is named for Wallingford, England. In 2007, Wallingford was named by Money Magazine as the 9th best place to live in the United States; two other towns in the area made the top 15.[1] Most locations in Nether Providence use Wallingford's zip code.

It is west of Interstate 476 (known locally as the "Blue Route") and east of S. Providence Road, PA 252. Crum Creek forms the township's eastern border with the borough of Swarthmore. Wallingford lies north of Chester on the southwest edge of the Philadelphia urban area. Wallingford is about 9 miles from Philadelphia proper.

The first area school started in 1810 and was built on a portion of a 78-acre (32 ha) land grant of farmer and friend of William Penn. Nether Providence School District was formed in 1856; it merged with the Swarthmore School District to become the Wallingford-Swarthmore School District but retained both the Nether Providence and Swarthmore High Schools. In 1984, the middle and high schools merged to become Strath Haven Middle School and Strath Haven High School. The Helen Kate Furness Library was founded in 1902.

Choose the Best Veterinary Technician Program near Wallingford PA

Wallingford PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Wallingford PA.