Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Downingtown PA

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Downingtown Pennsylvania

Downingtown PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Downingtown PA could at first seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a program that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the proper selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have located some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Downingtown PA

cat with cone after surgery in Downingtown PA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty 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 while there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Downingtown PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal 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 veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and usually acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Downingtown

student attending online vet tech school in Downingtown PA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Downingtown PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for commuting and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Downingtown PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Downingtown PA vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinarian degree that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Downingtown PA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, 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 screening process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Downingtown PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting 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 tip, call some Downingtown PA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

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

Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Downingtown PA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Downingtown PA colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Downingtown PA home, you have to make certain that the driving time fits into 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 large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes 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 essential 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 working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Downingtown PA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Downingtown PA?

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

Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Downingtown is a borough in Chester County, Pennsylvania, 33 miles (53 km) west of Philadelphia. As of the 2010 census it had a population of 7,891. Downingtown was settled by English and European colonists in the early 18th century and has a number of historic buildings and structures.

The town was originally named Milltown due to its number of mills along the East Branch Brandywine Creek, the first of which was founded by Daniel Butter. The Butter family also had paper mills in the area, and Frederick Bicking from Winterburg, Germany, was the patriarch of the Bicking paper families. Around the time of the American Revolution, Milltown became more commonly known as Downingtown after the prominent businessman Thomas Downing,[3] a Quaker immigrant in 1717 from Bradninch, Devon, England, who owned a number of those mills. The town was officially named Downingtown in 1812.

The town is located along the Lincoln Highway (now part of U.S. Route 30) which runs from the East Coast to the West Coast. It was an early westward road in the wagon days as the Philadelphia and Lancaster Turnpike. The Lincoln Highway was the first paved road to cross the nation from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Construction of the Pennsylvania Turnpike started in the early 1940s and was completed in the early 1950s; it runs north of US 30, bypassing Downingtown.

Enroll in the Best Veterinary Technician Program near Downingtown PA

Downingtown PA vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Downingtown PA.