Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Huntingdon PA

How to Select a Veterinary Technician Program near Huntingdon Pennsylvania

Huntingdon PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Huntingdon PA may at first feel like a daunting task. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. Once they have identified some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Huntingdon PA

cat with cone after surgery in Huntingdon PA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Huntingdon PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, for instance 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 almost all instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet 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 involved in more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Huntingdon

student attending online vet tech school in Huntingdon PA An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Huntingdon PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, such as for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Huntingdon PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Huntingdon PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Huntingdon PA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded 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 receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Huntingdon PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online 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 regarding your specific schools. As a final pointer, phone some Huntingdon PA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Huntingdon PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Huntingdon PA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you may receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Huntingdon PA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to 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 College Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Huntingdon PA home, you have to make sure 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 college is located close by or within 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 charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Huntingdon PA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Huntingdon PA?

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

Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania

Huntingdon County is a county located in the center of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the population was 45,913.[1] Its county seat is Huntingdon.[2] The county was created on September 20, 1787, mainly from the north part of Bedford County, plus an addition of territory on the east (Big Valley, Tuscarora Valley) from Cumberland County.

As of the census[9] of 2010, there were 45,913 people and 17,280 households within the county. The population density was 52 people per square mile (20/km²). There were 22,365 housing units at an average density of 24 per square mile (9/km²). The racial makeup of the county was 92.50% White, 5.21% Black or African American, 0.09% Native American, 0.40% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 0.87% from other races, and 0.92% from two or more races. 1.58% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race. 33.9% were of German, 17.1% American, 11.1% Irish, 7.5% English and 5.7% Italian ancestry.

There were 16,759 households out of which 30.10% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 58.10% were married couples living together, 8.30% had a female householder with no husband present, and 29.60% were non-families. 25.80% of all households were made up of individuals and 12.30% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.92.

Pick the Ideal Veterinary Technician College near Huntingdon PA

Huntingdon PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the right vet tech college is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician colleges need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Huntingdon PA.