Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools East Smithfield PA

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near East Smithfield Pennsylvania

East Smithfield PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near East Smithfield PA might at first feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must search for and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. After they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in East Smithfield PA

cat with cone after surgery in East Smithfield PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the East Smithfield PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed 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 trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, 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 urgent care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in East Smithfield PA laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in East Smithfield

student attending online vet tech school in East Smithfield PA An alternative that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local East Smithfield PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for instance for travel and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask East Smithfield PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask East Smithfield PA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the East Smithfield PA area as well as across the USA, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier 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 gone through an extensive screening process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of East Smithfield PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some East Smithfield PA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with East Smithfield PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the East Smithfield PA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the East Smithfield PA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your East Smithfield PA home, you must make sure that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located close by or within a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near East Smithfield PA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near East Smithfield PA?

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

East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania

East Stroudsburg is a borough in Monroe County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in the Poconos region of the state. Originally known as "Dansbury," East Stroudsburg was renamed for geographic reasons when the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western Railroad opened a station in town. It lies east of Stroudsburg and is more populous than that town. East Stroudsburg is the largest municipality in Monroe County and in the East Stroudsburg, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area[3] as designated by the Office of Management and Budget based on data from the 2010 US Census.

East Stroudsburg is located at 41°0′5″N 75°10′48″W / 41.00139°N 75.18000°W / 41.00139; -75.18000 (41.001442, -75.180111).[4] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km2), all of it land. When traveling west on Interstate 80, East Stroudsburg is the second town from the NJ-PA border on exit 309.

As of the 2010 United States Census, there were 9,840 people residing in the borough. The racial makeup of the borough was 73.2% White, 10.0% Black, 0.1% Native American, 2.4% Asian, 0.3% from some other race and 2.0% from two or more races. 11.8% were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

Enroll in the Right Vet Tech School near East Smithfield PA

East Smithfield PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students thinking about veterinary technician colleges must make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in East Smithfield PA.