Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Bridgeport PA

How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Bridgeport Pennsylvania

Bridgeport PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Bridgeport PA may initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a college that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the right selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. When they have found some local colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Bridgeport PA

cat with cone after surgery in Bridgeport PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are numerous duties that they can carry out within the Bridgeport PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each position.

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 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 execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Bridgeport

student attending online vet tech school in Bridgeport PA An option that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Bridgeport PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for commuting and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech school may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Bridgeport PA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Bridgeport PA vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Bridgeport PA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some qualifying 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 the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier 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 screening process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for many Bridgeport PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Bridgeport PA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Bridgeport PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Bridgeport PA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Bridgeport PA schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Bridgeport PA home, you need 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the vet colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Bridgeport PA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Bridgeport PA?

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

Bridgeport, Pennsylvania

Bridgeport is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 18 mi (29 km) north of Philadelphia on the Schuylkill River. Former industries included paper, flour, cotton, woolen mills, steel works, and brickyards. Bridgeport is 6 mi (9.7 km) east of Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. In 1777, during the American Revolutionary War, General George Washington and the Continental Army passed through Bridgeport on their way to their winter encampment in Valley Forge. 3,097 people lived in Bridgeport in 1900; 3,860 in 1910; and 5,904 in 1940. The population was 4,554 at the 2010 census.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.8 square miles (2.1 km2), of which 0.6 square miles (1.6 km2) is land and 0.1 square miles (0.26 km2) (13.33%) is water.

The climate in this area is characterized by hot, humid summers and generally mild to cool winters. According to the Köppen Climate Classification system, Bridgeport has a humid subtropical climate, abbreviated "Cfa" on climate maps.[3]

Choose the Ideal Veterinary Technician Program near Bridgeport PA

Bridgeport PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech program is an important first step to starting a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech schools need to make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent 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 narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Bridgeport PA.