Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Willow Grove PA

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Willow Grove Pennsylvania

Willow Grove PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Willow Grove PA could at first feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need 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 approach evaluating and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. When they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Willow Grove PA

cat with cone after surgery in Willow Grove PA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Willow Grove PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and generally acquire 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 general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Willow Grove

student attending online vet tech school in Willow Grove PA An option that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Willow Grove PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for commuting and study supplies, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Willow Grove PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Willow Grove PA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Willow Grove PA area and across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among 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 review process that ensures you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for many Willow Grove PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Willow Grove PA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Willow Grove PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Willow Grove PA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Willow Grove PA colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Willow Grove PA home, you have to make sure 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, particularly if the college is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the veterinarian colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Willow Grove PA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Willow Grove PA?

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

Willow Grove, Pennsylvania

Willow Grove is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. A community in Philadelphia's northern suburbs, the population was 15,726 at the 2010 census. It is located in Upper Dublin Township, Abington Township and Upper Moreland Township. Willow Grove was once known for Willow Grove Park, an amusement park that was open from 1896 to 1976, now the site of Willow Grove Park Mall. Willow Grove is considered an edge city of Philadelphia with large amounts of retail and office space.[3]

Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Willow Grove was located northwest of the Willow Grove CDP in Horsham Township.[4] NAS JRB Willow Grove transitioned into Horsham Air National Guard Station in September 2011.[citation needed]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 3.6 square miles (9.3 km2), of which 0.28% is water. It has a hot-summer humid continental climate (Dfa) and its hardiness zone is 7a.

Select the Best Veterinary Technician Program near Willow Grove PA

Willow Grove PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician college is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Willow Grove PA.