Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Bryn Athyn PA

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Bryn Athyn Pennsylvania

Bryn Athyn PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Bryn Athyn PA could initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. When they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when assessing vet tech schools, they are not the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make a final selection. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Bryn Athyn PA

cat with cone after surgery in Bryn Athyn PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Bryn Athyn PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, 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 outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries 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 vet technicians and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Bryn Athyn

student attending online vet tech school in Bryn Athyn PA An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Bryn Athyn PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Bryn Athyn PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Bryn Athyn PA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Bryn Athyn PA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 rigorous screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for a number of Bryn Athyn PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Bryn Athyn PA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Bryn Athyn PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Bryn Athyn PA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may 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 larger, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Bryn Athyn PA colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Bryn Athyn 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a large 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 charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Bryn Athyn PA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Bryn Athyn PA?

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

Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania

Bryn Athyn is a home rule municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It was formerly a borough, and its official name remains "Borough of Bryn Athyn". The population was 1,375 at the 2010 census. It was formed for religious reasons from Moreland Township on February 8, 1916. Bryn Athyn is surrounded by Lower Moreland Township.[3]

As of the 2010 census, Bryn Athyn was 92.5% White, 2.7% Black or African American, 2.5% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian, and 1.8% were two or more races. 1.2% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry [2].

As of the census[7] of 2000, there were 1,351 individuals, 377 households, and 292 families residing in the borough. The population density was 706.5 people per square mile (273.1/km2). There were 381 housing units at an average density of 199.3 per square mile (77.0/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.82% White, 1.04% African American, 0.07% Native American, 1.26% Asian, 0.22% from other races, and 0.59% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 0.67% of the population. 17.9% were of German, 15.5% English, 11.8% American, 6.7% Scottish and 6.6% Swedish ancestry according to Census 2000.

Pick the Right Vet Tech School near Bryn Athyn PA

Bryn Athyn PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech schools need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Bryn Athyn PA.