How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician Program near Lafayette Hill Pennsylvania

Realizing your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Lafayette Hill PA could initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing schools so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are close to their residences. Once they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Lafayette Hill PA 

Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can perform within the Lafayette Hill PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each specialty.

• Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
• Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
• Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. Therefore the only real distinction 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, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary technicians 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  Lafayette Hill PA laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Lafayette Hill

An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Lafayette Hill PA veterinary practice 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 traveling and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Questions to Ask Lafayette Hill PA Veterinary Technician Programs

By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Lafayette Hill PA area and across the USA, you need to ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited?  It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Lafayette Hill PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation?  The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Lafayette Hill PA veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs?  The best way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Lafayette Hill PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many 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 develop associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided?  Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Lafayette Hill PA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes?  If the classes are larger in size, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Lafayette Hill PA programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located?  Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Lafayette Hill PA home, you must make sure 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 larger city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could 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 imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Lafayette Hill PA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family emergencies. You may discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lafayette Hill PA?

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

Enroll in the Right Veterinary Technician School near Lafayette Hill PA

Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech program is an important first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Students looking into vet tech schools must make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lafayette Hill PA.

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