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How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Leetsdale Pennsylvania

Leetsdale PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech program near Leetsdale PA may initially seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach analyzing and comparing colleges so that you can make the right selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. Once they have located some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when assessing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at 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 discuss the varied duties of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Leetsdale PA

cat with cone after surgery in Leetsdale PA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination 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 each work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Leetsdale PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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. Generally they are not associated with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually earn a two 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 basic job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Leetsdale PA labs or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Leetsdale

student attending online vet tech school in Leetsdale PA An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various 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 Leetsdale PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, such as for commuting and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Leetsdale PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Leetsdale PA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Leetsdale PA area and across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously mentioned other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, 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 screening process that confirms you will get 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 degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Leetsdale PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, get in touch with some Leetsdale PA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Leetsdale PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop connections 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 veterinary technician program may be difficult without the assistance 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 unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied 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 may indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Leetsdale PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Leetsdale PA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Leetsdale PA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with 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 school is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Leetsdale 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 offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Leetsdale PA?

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

Leetsdale, Pennsylvania

Leetsdale was incorporated on March 28, 1904. Leetsdale at one time had a formidable industrial manufacturing base, with a Bethlehem Steel mill that closed in the late 1970s. The site of the mill on the shore of the Ohio River is now the Leetsdale Industrial Park, or the Port of Leetsdale, and is home to facilities leased to a number of companies of varying sizes.[4]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.1 square miles (2.8 km2), of which 1.0 square mile (2.6 km2) is land and 0.2 square miles (0.52 km2), or 13.91%, is water.

Leetsdale is bordered by Ambridge in Beaver County to the north, Leet Township to the northeast, and Edgeworth to the southeast. The borough includes the former town of Shields. The Ohio River forms the southwest border of the borough; across the river is Crescent Township.

Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech Program near Leetsdale PA

Leetsdale PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right vet tech college is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students thinking about vet tech programs must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you select 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 evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Leetsdale PA.