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How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Dresher Pennsylvania

Dresher PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Dresher PA could initially feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. When they have found some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when assessing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Dresher PA

cat with cone after surgery in Dresher PA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can carry out within the Dresher PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most instances 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 execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally 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 veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Dresher

student attending online vet tech school in Dresher PA An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Dresher PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain 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 self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Dresher PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Dresher PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Dresher PA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, one of 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 screening process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for many Dresher PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Dresher PA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Dresher 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 invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Dresher PA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Dresher PA programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously discussed 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 Dresher PA home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Dresher PA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Dresher PA?

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

Dresher, Pennsylvania

Dresher (previously Dreshertown) is a community in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 5,610 at the 2000 census. Because Dresher is neither an incorporated area nor a census-designated place, all statistics are for the ZIP code 19025, with which the community is coterminous.

As of the census of 2000, there were 5,610 people, 1,765 households, and 1,538 families residing in the community. The population density was 1,734.04/sq mi. There were 1,830 housing units at an average density of 564.67/sq mi. The racial make-up was 89.9% White, 1.0% African American, 0.7% Native American, 6.8% Asian, 0.0% Pacific Islander, 0.8% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.2% of the population.

Out of the 1,765 households, 47.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 80.4% were married couples living together, 2.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 12.9% were non-families. 12.0% of all households were made up of individuals. The average household size was 3.05 and the average family size was 3.31.

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician School near Dresher PA

Dresher PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal vet tech program is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students considering veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as 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 goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Dresher PA.