How to Find the Right Vet Tech Program near Kittanning Pennsylvania

Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Kittanning PA might initially seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will provide the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. After they have identified some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Kittanning PA 

Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Kittanning PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialization.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of instances 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 vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
• Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated functions, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Kittanning

An approach that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Kittanning PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for commuting and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Kittanning PA Vet Tech Programs

By now you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Kittanning PA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited?  It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding screening process that verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Kittanning PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation?  The veterinarian trade school or college and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Kittanning PA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered?  The most effective way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Kittanning PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help establish relationships in the local veterinarian 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 college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A low rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Kittanning PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not highly 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 probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Kittanning PA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for 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 methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Kittanning PA home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school 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 higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible?  And last, it’s important that you determine if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Kittanning PA. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Kittanning PA?

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

Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech Program near Kittanning PA

Choosing the ideal veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when 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 applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Kittanning PA.

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