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How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Altoona Pennsylvania

Altoona PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Altoona PA may initially feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing programs so that you can make the right choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. Once they have located some area schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Altoona PA

cat with cone after surgery in Altoona PA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can perform within the Altoona PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced 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 sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So 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 also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Altoona

student attending online vet tech school in Altoona PA An alternative 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 training program. Since the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Altoona PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for instance for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Altoona PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Altoona PA vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Altoona PA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in 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 reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the veterinary technician program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade 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 essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for many Altoona PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Altoona PA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Altoona PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate may mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify 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 excellent reputation within the Altoona PA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Altoona PA colleges you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations 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 Campus Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Altoona PA home, you need to make sure that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you determine if the vet colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Altoona PA. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Altoona PA?

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

Altoona, Pennsylvania

Altoona is a city in Blair County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is the principal city of the Altoona Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA). The population was 46,320 at the time of the 2010 Census, making it the eleventh most populous city in Pennsylvania. The Altoona MSA includes all of Blair County and was recorded as having a population of 127,089 at the 2010 Census,[7] around 100,000 of whom live within a 5-mile (8.0 km) radius of the Altoona city center according to U.S. Census ZIP Code population data. This includes the adjacent boroughs of Hollidaysburg and Duncansville, adjacent townships of Logan, Allegheny, Blair, Frankstown, Antis, and Tyrone, as well as nearby boroughs of Bellwood and Newry.

Having grown around the railroad industry,[8] the city is currently working to recover from industrial decline and urban decentralization experienced in recent decades. The city is home to the Altoona Curve baseball team of the Double A Eastern League, which is the affiliate of the Major League Baseball team Pittsburgh Pirates. It also houses the 75-plus-year-old Altoona Symphony Orchestra,[9] under the direction of Teresa Cheung. Prominent landmarks include the Horseshoe Curve, the Railroaders Memorial Museum, the Juniata Shops of the Altoona Works, the Mishler Theatre, the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament, and the Jaffa Shrine Center.

As a major railroad town, Altoona was founded by the Pennsylvania Railroad (PRR) in 1849 as the site for a shop and maintenance complex. Altoona was incorporated as a borough on February 6, 1854, and as a city under legislation approved on April 3, 1867, and February 8, 1868.[10]

Pick the Best Veterinary Technician Program near Altoona PA

Altoona PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech school is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative 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 programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Altoona PA.