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How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Dauphin Pennsylvania

Dauphin PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Dauphin PA might at first seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you must find and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. After they have located some local schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when comparing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Dauphin PA

cat with cone after surgery in Dauphin PA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might 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 specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Dauphin PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive 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 fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable 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 to complete. So the main difference 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 required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Dauphin PA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Dauphin

student attending online vet tech school in Dauphin PA An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Dauphin PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, such as for travel and study materials, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Dauphin PA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Dauphin PA vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Dauphin PA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive 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 programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Dauphin PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Dauphin PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Dauphin PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. 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 dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Dauphin PA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Dauphin PA programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Dauphin PA home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located close by or within 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 higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you find out if the vet colleges you are considering offer class times flexible enough 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 Dauphin PA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Dauphin PA?

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

Dauphin County, Pennsylvania

Dauphin County /ˈdɔːfɪn/ is a county in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 268,100.[2] The county seat and the largest city is Harrisburg,[3]Pennsylvania's state capital and tenth largest city. The county was created ("erected") on March 4, 1785, from part of Lancaster County and was named after Louis-Joseph, Dauphin of France,[4] the first son of king Louis XVI.

According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the county has a total area of 558 square miles (1,450 km2), of which 525 square miles (1,360 km2) is land and 33 square miles (85 km2) (5.9%) is water.[5] The county is bound to its western border by the Susquehanna River. It has a humid continental climate (Dfa except for some Dfb in highlands) and the hardiness zone ranges from 6a to 7a. The area code is 717 with an overlay of 223.

As of the 2010 census, the county was 72.7% White, 18.0% Black or African American, 0.2% Native American, 3.2% Asian, and 3.1% were two or more races. 7.0% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.

Pick the Best Vet Tech School near Dauphin PA

Dauphin PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into vet tech colleges must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online schools 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 selection. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Dauphin PA.