Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools King Of Prussia PA

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near King Of Prussia Pennsylvania

King Of Prussia PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near King Of Prussia PA may at first seem like a challenging task. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a college that will deliver the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. After they have found some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are considering before you make an ultimate selection. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Function of a Vet Tech in King Of Prussia PA

cat with cone after surgery in King Of Prussia PA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the King Of Prussia PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states presently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years to complete. Therefore 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 work options, higher salaries and potential 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 internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in King Of Prussia PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in King Of Prussia

student attending online vet tech school in King Of Prussia PA An option that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local King Of Prussia PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, such as for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the program 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 included for a comprehensive 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.

Things to Ask King Of Prussia PA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask King Of Prussia PA vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential 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 King Of Prussia PA area and across the United States, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. 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 significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, 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 thorough review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for many King Of Prussia PA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers 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 infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some King Of Prussia PA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with King Of Prussia PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the school has an exceptional reputation within the King Of Prussia PA vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the King Of Prussia PA programs you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we previously covered location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your King Of Prussia PA home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near King Of Prussia PA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to illness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near King Of Prussia PA?

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

King of Prussia, Pennsylvania

King of Prussia (also referred to as KOP)[3] is a census-designated place in Upper Merion Township, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. As of the 2010 census, its population was 19,936. The community took its name in the 18th century from a local tavern named the King of Prussia Inn, which was named after King Frederick the Great of Prussia. Like the rest of Montgomery County, King of Prussia continues to experience rapid development. The largest shopping mall in the United States, King of Prussia, is located here. Also located here is the headquarters of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Region I. King of Prussia is considered to be an edge city of Philadelphia, consisting of large amounts of retail and office space situated at the convergence of four highways.

The eponymous King of Prussia Inn was originally constructed as a cottage in 1719 by the Welsh Quakers William and Janet Rees, founders of Reesville. The cottage was converted to an inn in 1769 and did a steady business in colonial times as it was approximately a day's travel by horse from Philadelphia. Settlers headed west to Ohio would sleep at the inn on their first night on the road. In 1774 the Rees family hired James Berry to manage the inn, which henceforth became known as "Berry's Tavern". General George Washington first visited the tavern on Thanksgiving Day in 1777 while the Continental Army was encamped at Whitemarsh; a few weeks later Washington and the army bivouacked at nearby Valley Forge.[4]

Parker's spy map,[5] created by a Tory sympathizer of the Kingdom of Great Britain, listed the inn as "Berry's" in 1777, but a local petition in 1786 identified it as the "King of Prussia". It was possibly renamed in honor of Benjamin Franklin's pro-American satirical essay "An Edict by the King of Prussia".[6] At some point a wooden signboard of the inn depicted King Frederick II (Frederick the Great) of Prussia. The inn is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[7]

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech College near King Of Prussia PA

King Of Prussia PA vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Potential students considering vet tech programs need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in King Of Prussia PA.