How to Select a Vet Tech School near Kirkwood Pennsylvania

Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Kirkwood PA might initially feel like a daunting task. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. When they have found some area schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Kirkwood PA 

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Kirkwood PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental 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 tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years. 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 additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Kirkwood

An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Kirkwood PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for traveling and study supplies, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure 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 practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Kirkwood PA Veterinary Technician Programs

At this point you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Kirkwood PA area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It’s essential that you verify that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, 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 a demanding screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a precondition for employment for a number of Kirkwood PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Kirkwood PA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The best means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Kirkwood PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered?  Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Kirkwood PA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes?  If the classes are larger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Kirkwood PA colleges you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located?  Yes, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Kirkwood PA home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule?  And last, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Kirkwood PA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Kirkwood PA?

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

Enroll in the Right Vet Tech Program near Kirkwood PA

Selecting the right veterinary technician school is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Students thinking about veterinary technician schools need to make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Kirkwood PA.

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