Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Harleysville PA

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician School near Harleysville Pennsylvania

Harleysville PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Harleysville PA may at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the ideal selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Harleysville PA

cat with cone after surgery in Harleysville PA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Harleysville PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Harleysville

student attending online vet tech school in Harleysville PA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Harleysville PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Harleysville PA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Harleysville PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Harleysville PA area and across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a precondition for employment for many Harleysville PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Harleysville PA veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Harleysville PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Harleysville PA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly 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, you may receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Harleysville PA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Harleysville PA home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, 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 in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Harleysville PA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or 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 may miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the best way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Harleysville PA?

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

Harleysville, Pennsylvania

Harleysville is a census-designated place (CDP) in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a suburb of Philadelphia. The population was 9,286 at the 2010 census. It is located mostly within Lower Salford Township and also in Franconia Township. Harleysville was settled by Pennsylvania Dutch in the 18th century and was named after Samuel Harley.

Route 63 (Main Street) and Route 113 (Harleysville Pike) meet in Harleysville and provide access to other routes on the main grid. Interstate 476 is a five-minute drive via 63 from Harleysville to the Lansdale Interchange, on the Northeast Extension of the Pennsylvania Turnpike. Center City Philadelphia is less than 30 miles from Harleysville.

As of the 2010 census, the CDP was 90.4% Non-Hispanic White, 2.6% Black or African American, 0.1% Native American and Alaskan Native, 3.5% Asian, 0.6% were Some Other Race, and 1.2% were two or more races. 2.4% of the population were of Hispanic or Latino ancestry.[3]

Choose the Right Vet Tech School near Harleysville PA

Harleysville PA vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate vet tech school is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and assist 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 excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Harleysville PA.