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How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Hanover Pennsylvania

Hanover PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Hanover PA may initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. After they have identified some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors 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 technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Hanover PA

cat with cone after surgery in Hanover PA Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Hanover PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Hanover

student attending online vet tech school in Hanover PA An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Hanover PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for commuting and study supplies, may be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Hanover PA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Hanover PA vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential 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, trade and vocational schools in the Hanover PA area and across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 an extensive review process that confirms you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for many Hanover PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Hanover PA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs set up with Hanover PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A lower rate may mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Hanover PA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Hanover PA schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Hanover PA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Hanover PA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Hanover PA?

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

Hanover, Pennsylvania

Hanover is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania, 19 miles (31 km) southwest of York and 54 miles (87 km) north-northwest of Baltimore, Maryland and is 5 miles (8.0 km) north of the Mason-Dixon line. The town is situated in a productive agricultural region. The population was 15,289 at the 2010 census. The borough is served by the 717 area code and the ZIP Codes of 17331-34. Hanover is named after the German city of Hannover.

In 1727, John Digges, an Irish nobleman of Prince George's County, Maryland, obtained a grant of 10,000 acres (40 km2) of land where Hanover is now located from Charles Calvert, the fourth Lord Baltimore. The area was called Digges Choice, and in 1730, a group of Catholics started the settlement that became known as the Conewego Settlement. Settlers from both Maryland and Pennsylvania began moving into the area in the 1730s. At this time, Maryland and of Pennsylvania did not agree on the northern border of Maryland and the southern border of Pennsylvania, and the area that is now Hanover was in the disputed area claimed by both states. This led to numerous disputes about property ownership from the 1730s until 1760. The dispute was settled when Maryland and Pennsylvania hired British experts Charles Mason and Jeremiah Dixon to survey what became known as the Mason–Dixon Line. This line was surveyed between 1763 and 1767, and put an end to decades of disputes over rights and ownership.[6][7][8]

In 1745, a Scot-Irishman named Richard McAllister purchased the tract of land upon which the original town of Hanover was built. McAllister was a Presbyterian who had recently migrated from the Cumberland Valley. Hanover at that time was covered with a dense forest of hickory, walnut, and oak trees. McAllister erected a log house at what is now the corner of Baltimore and Middle streets, and opened a store and tavern. In 1763, McAllister divided his farm into lots and founded the town of Hanover. German settlers nicknamed the settlement "Hickory Town" after the thick groves of hickory trees that grew in the area. The name Hanover was suggested by Michael Tanner, who was one of the commissioners who laid out York County in 1749 and owned large tracts of land southeast of the town. Tanner's choice of the name came from the fact that he was a native of Hannover, Germany. The town's founders, who wanted to please the German settlers, agreed to the name. Hanover was also sometimes referred to as "McAllister's Town" in its early years.[9]

Choose the Best Vet Tech School near Hanover PA

Hanover PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Students thinking about vet tech programs need to make their selection based on several 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 as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Hanover PA.