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How to Select a Vet Tech Program near Blue Bell Pennsylvania

Blue Bell PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Blue Bell PA might at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the best choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. When they have identified some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Blue Bell PA

cat with cone after surgery in Blue Bell PA One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Blue Bell PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and generally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general 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 complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Blue Bell

student attending online vet tech school in Blue Bell PA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend 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 many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Blue Bell PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for example for commuting and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Blue Bell PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Blue Bell PA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Blue Bell PA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech school you enroll in 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 undergone a demanding review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Blue Bell PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions 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 grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Blue Bell PA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Blue Bell PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Blue Bell PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify 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 bigger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Blue Bell PA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

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

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Blue Bell PA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Blue Bell PA?

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

Blue Bell, Pennsylvania

Blue Bell was originally known as Pigeontown, after the large flocks of the now-extinct passenger pigeons that once gathered there. The town was renamed in 1840 after the historically prominent Blue Bell Inn.

Blue Bell is known for its large executive-style homes, major business parks, community shopping facilities, and small businesses. It is one of the most affluent areas outside the Main Line communities in the Philadelphia area. In July 2005, Money magazine ranked Blue Bell 14th on its list of the "100 Best Places to Live in the United States".[1]

Blue Bell is located at 40°8′41″N 75°16′8″W / 40.14472°N 75.26889°W / 40.14472; -75.26889 (40.144759, -75.268752).[3] According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 5.4 square miles (14 km2), all of it land.

Choose the Ideal Vet Tech Program near Blue Bell PA

Blue Bell PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you enroll in 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 included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Blue Bell PA.