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How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Catawissa Pennsylvania

Catawissa PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Catawissa PA might at first feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. After they have found some area schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Catawissa PA

cat with cone after surgery in Catawissa PA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to 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 while there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Catawissa PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured 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 technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and generally earn a two 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 fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Catawissa

student attending online vet tech school in Catawissa PA An option that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Catawissa PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Catawissa PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Catawissa PA vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Catawissa PA area and across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed 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 essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for a number of Catawissa PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Catawissa PA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Catawissa PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate could mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Catawissa PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Catawissa PA colleges you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Catawissa PA home, you need to make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Catawissa PA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Catawissa PA?

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

Catawissa, Pennsylvania

Catawissa is twinned with Uxbridge, Ontario. The historic link began in 1805, when the Uxbridge area was granted by the British crown to Dr. Christopher Beswick, first medical doctor north of the Oak Ridges Moraine. While not a Quaker, he lived in Catawissa before moving to the Uxbridge area. Beswick Lane in the Ontario town is named after him.[4]

The area where Catawissa now is was originally owned by William Henry in 1769. Catawissa was laid out in 1787. At this time it was referred to as "Hughesburg" or "Catawissey". The lots of the town were distributed by lottery. When boats began to commonly travel along the Susquehanna River, Catawissa became locally important. Talk of a school in Catawissa began in 1796, and one was built there in 1800. The Catawissa Fire Company was founded in 1827. The Catawissa Deposit Bank was incorporated in 1871. The Catawissa Water Company was formed in 1882. A number of Masonic establishments were built in Catawissa in the mid to late 1800s.[5]

Catawissa is located in western Columbia County at 40°57′9″N 76°27′37″W / 40.95250°N 76.46028°W / 40.95250; -76.46028 (40.952458, -76.460393),[7] on the southeast side of the Susquehanna River. Catawissa Creek flows along the southern boundary of the borough into the Susquehanna. According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.54 square miles (1.4 km2), of which 0.02 square miles (0.06 km2), or 4.50%, is water.[3]

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician College near Catawissa PA

Catawissa PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech schools need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Catawissa PA.