Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Clearfield PA

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech Program near Clearfield Pennsylvania

Clearfield PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Clearfield PA may initially seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. When they have located some local colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when comparing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Clearfield PA

cat with cone after surgery in Clearfield PA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can perform within the Clearfield PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared with assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Clearfield

student attending online vet tech school in Clearfield PA An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Clearfield PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for travel and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses 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 program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Clearfield PA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Clearfield PA vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential 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 vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Clearfield PA area and across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, 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 important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many Clearfield PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers 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 relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Clearfield PA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Clearfield PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Clearfield PA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Clearfield PA programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Clearfield PA home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with 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, especially if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Clearfield PA. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Clearfield PA?

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

Clearfield, Pennsylvania

Clearfield is a borough and the county seat[3] of Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 6,215 people[4] making it the second most populous community in Clearfield County behind DuBois. The borough is part of the DuBois, PA Micropolitan Statistical Area, as well as the larger State College-DuBois, PA Combined Statistical Area. The settled area surrounding the borough consists of the nearby census-designated places of Hyde and Plymptonville, which combined with Clearfield have a population of approximately 8,595 people.

As of October 2015, meetings between Clearfield Borough and Lawrence Township members have been discussed for possible merger and consolidation of the two municipalities to become one municipality or city. As of October 1, 2016 both Clearfield Borough and Lawrence Township still remain separate municipalities.[5][6] However meetings as of September 29, 2016 show the process is moving forward, and consolidation would occur around January 6, 2020 if vote passes.[7]

There were many trade routes and paths for Native Americans living and passing through Clearfield County up to the 1600s. One major Indian path at the time was the Great Shamokin Path, which started near the Indian village of Shamokin (now Sunbury) on the Susquehanna River and continued west past Lock Haven, to Chinklacamoose,[8] now the borough of Clearfield. Finally the path ended at the village of Kittanning on the Allegheny River, which is now the modern town of the same name.

Pick the Best Veterinary Technician School near Clearfield PA

Clearfield PA vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students considering vet tech colleges must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Clearfield PA.