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How to Pick a Vet Tech Program near Glenolden Pennsylvania

Glenolden PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Glenolden PA could initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the correct choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. Once they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are important concerns when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make a final choice. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Glenolden PA

cat with cone after surgery in Glenolden PA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. 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 determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Glenolden PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and normally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Glenolden

student attending online vet tech school in Glenolden PA An approach that may be a solution 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 schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Glenolden PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for example for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure 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 disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Glenolden PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Glenolden PA vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Glenolden PA area as well as across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician program 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 gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Glenolden PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or vocational school and program you choose should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Glenolden PA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs established with Glenolden PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate may mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Glenolden PA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Glenolden PA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Glenolden PA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, 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 near or in a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Glenolden PA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Glenolden PA?

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

Glenolden, Pennsylvania

Glenolden is located in eastern Delaware County at 39°53′56″N 75°17′33″W / 39.89889°N 75.29250°W / 39.89889; -75.29250 (39.898812, −75.292456).[4] It is bordered to east and southeast by the borough of Folcroft, to the southwest by Norwood, to the northwest by Ridley Township, to the north by Darby Township, and to the northeast by Collingdale.

As of Census 2010, the racial makeup of the borough was 86.9% White, 8.5% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.7% Asian, 0.1% Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, 0.3% from other races, and 2.4% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.2% of the population [2].

As of the census of 2000, there were 7,476 people, 3,058 households, and 1,871 families residing in the borough. The population density was 7,673.6 people per square mile (2,975.8/km²). There were 3,198 housing units at an average density of 3,282.5 per square mile (1,272.9/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 92.28% White, 4.03% African American, 0.04% Native American, 2.38% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.21% from other races, and 1.04% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.18% of the population.[6]

Choose the Right Vet Tech School near Glenolden PA

Glenolden PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed 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 pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech 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 decision. And by choosing the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Glenolden PA.