Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Greenville PA

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Greenville Pennsylvania

Greenville PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Greenville PA may initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing schools so that you can make the best selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. When they have identified some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant factors when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Greenville PA

cat with cone after surgery in Greenville PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can perform within the Greenville PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 involved activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Greenville

student attending online vet tech school in Greenville PA An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Greenville PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for commuting and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Greenville PA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Greenville PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Greenville PA area as well as across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to enroll in a school 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 schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for many Greenville PA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can begin 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 internet school ranking 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 infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final pointer, call some Greenville PA veterinary clinics that you might 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 most effective way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Greenville PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Greenville PA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Greenville PA schools you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Greenville PA home, you have to make sure 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 campus is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Greenville PA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might find that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Greenville PA?

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

East Greenville, Pennsylvania

As of the 2010 census, the borough was 93.7% White, 2.3% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.0% Asian, and 1.9% were two or more races. 3.3% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry [1].

As of the census[5] of 2000, there were 3,103 people, 1,124 households, and 805 families residing in the borough. The population density was 5,978.9 people per square mile (2,304.0/km2). There were 1,173 housing units at an average density of 2,260.1 per square mile (871.0/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 96.78% White, 0.90% African American, 0.13% Native American, 0.52% Asian, 0.90% from other races, and 0.77% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 2.64% of the population.

There were 1,124 households, out of which 43.6% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 53.4% were married couples living together, 13.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 28.3% were non-families. 22.7% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.4% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.76 and the average family size was 3.24.

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician College near Greenville PA

Greenville PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as 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 programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Greenville PA.