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How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Colmar Pennsylvania

Colmar PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Colmar PA may at first feel like a daunting task. After all, you must locate and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. When they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when assessing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various roles of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Colmar PA

cat with cone after surgery in Colmar PA Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Colmar PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone 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 vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion 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 involved in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Colmar

student attending online vet tech school in Colmar PA An approach that might 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 provided over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Colmar PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, such as for commuting and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified 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 independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Colmar PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Colmar PA vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Colmar PA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, 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 a demanding screening process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Colmar PA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations 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 tip, call some Colmar PA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Colmar PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Colmar PA veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Colmar PA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Colmar PA home, you must make sure that the commuting 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 campus is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the vet programs you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Colmar PA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Colmar PA?

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

Colmar station (SEPTA)

Colmar station is a SEPTA Regional Rail station in Colmar, Pennsylvania. Located at Bethlehem Pike (PA-309) and Walnut Street, it serves the Lansdale/Doylestown Line. In FY 2013, Colmar station had a weekday average of 370 boardings and 369 alightings.[1]

Colmar station was originally built in 1856 by the North Pennsylvania Railroad as Line Lexington Station, despite being located 1½ miles away from the Village of Line Lexington. In January 1871 a new post office near the station named the surrounding community "Jenkins" and was renamed "Ainsworth" in June of that year, but neither had any effect on the name of the station until two weeks later, when both the village and the station were named "Colmar," which has remained the name of the station ever since.[2][3]

Pick the Right Vet Tech College near Colmar PA

Colmar PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Colmar PA.