Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Curtisville PA

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech School near Curtisville Pennsylvania

Curtisville PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Curtisville PA might at first seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have found some local schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Curtisville PA

cat with cone after surgery in Curtisville PA Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the primary factor will probably be which specialization interests 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 even though there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Curtisville PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Curtisville

student attending online vet tech school in Curtisville PA An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Curtisville PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Curtisville PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Curtisville PA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Curtisville PA area and across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Curtisville PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Curtisville PA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Curtisville PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Curtisville PA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not highly 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 bigger, you may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Curtisville PA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Curtisville PA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in 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. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Curtisville PA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Curtisville PA?

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

Curtisville, Pennsylvania

As of the census[3] of 2000, there were 1,173 people, 498 households, and 330 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 822.5 people per square mile (316.7/km²). There were 528 housing units at an average density of 370.2/sq mi (142.6/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 98.81% White, 0.09% African American, 0.09% Asian, 0.26% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.11% of the population.

There were 498 households, out of which 29.1% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 48.6% were married couples living together, 11.8% had a female householder with no husband present, and 33.7% were non-families. 29.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.36 and the average family size was 2.89.

In the CDP, the population was spread out, with 23.0% under the age of 18, 6.6% from 18 to 24, 32.7% from 25 to 44, 22.1% from 45 to 64, and 15.6% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 39 years. For every 100 females, there were 93.2 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 88.5 males.

Select the Best Veterinary Technician School near Curtisville PA

Curtisville PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, 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 vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Curtisville PA.