How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near West Grove Pennsylvania

Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near West Grove PA could initially feel like a daunting task. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing programs so that you can make the right selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in West Grove PA 

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can carry out within the West Grove PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and generally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in West Grove

An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local West Grove PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for traveling and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask West Grove PA Veterinary Technician Schools

By now you should have determined 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, technical and vocational schools in the West Grove PA area and across the Country, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited?  It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many West Grove PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation?  The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some West Grove PA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The most effective means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with West Grove PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish 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 may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate could mean 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 assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the West Grove PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not well 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 most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the West Grove PA programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your West Grove PA home, you have to make sure 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, particularly if the school is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near West Grove PA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near West Grove PA?

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

Select the Ideal Vet Tech School near West Grove PA

Selecting the appropriate vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech schools need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you choose 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 evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in West Grove PA.

Other Doggone Good Cities in Pennsylvania

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Scotrun PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Weikert PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Millsboro PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Roaring Branch PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Penn Run PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Springboro PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Ambridge PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Elizabethtown PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Braddock PA

Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Rockhill Furnace PA