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How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Levittown Pennsylvania

Levittown PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Levittown PA may initially seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. Once they have found some local colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are reviewing before you make a final decision. We have furnished several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Levittown PA

cat with cone after surgery in Levittown PA One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main factor will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Levittown PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and typically acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians 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. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher 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 registration, certification or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Levittown

student attending online vet tech school in Levittown PA An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Levittown PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Levittown PA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Levittown PA vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Levittown PA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune 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 mentioned other important qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Levittown PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include looking on 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 grievances or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Levittown PA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Levittown PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Levittown PA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Levittown PA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Levittown PA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute 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 college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Levittown PA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You may find that an online program is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Levittown PA?

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

Levittown, Pennsylvania

Levittown is a census-designated place (CDP) and planned community in Bucks County, Pennsylvania, United States, within the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The population was 52,983 at the 2010 census.[2] It is 40 feet (12 m) above sea level. Though not a municipality, it is sometimes recognized as the largest suburb of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania[3] (while Upper Darby Township, Lower Merion Township, Bensalem Township, Abington Township and Bristol Township are municipalities larger in size in the three surrounding Pennsylvania counties). Starting with land purchased in 1951, it was planned and built by Levitt & Sons. The brothers Bill Levitt and architect Alfred Levitt designed its six typical houses.

The majority of the land on which it is built was purchased in 1951. Levitt and Sons only built six models of houses in Levittown, all single-family dwellings with lawns: the Levittowner, the Rancher, the Jubilee, the Pennsylvanian, the Colonial and the Country Clubber, with only modest exterior variations within each model. The homes were moderately priced and required only a low down payment. Construction of Levittown began in February 1952, soon after completion of Levittown, New York, located on Long Island. Levittown, Pennsylvania was the second "Levittown" built by William J. Levitt, who is often credited as the creator of the modern American suburb. To speed up construction, Levitt & Sons perfected a 26-step rationalized building method that was essentially an assembly line type of home building. The house remained stationary, while the construction workers moved from house to house. Each worker had one task such as pouring slabs, framing, installing electric sockets or installing washing machines. This highly regimented process enabled Levitt's workers to produce a finished house every 16 minutes. Construction of the homes commenced in 1952 and when completed in 1958, 17,311 homes were built.

What set Levittown apart from other developments at the time was that it was built as a complete community. Levitt & Sons designed neighborhoods with traffic-calming curvilinear roads, in which there were no four-way intersections. Each neighborhood had within its boundaries a site donated by Levitt & Sons for a public elementary school. Locations for churches and other public facilities were set aside on main thoroughfares such as the Levittown Parkway, likewise donated by the builder to religious groups and other organizations. Other amenities included Olympic-sized public pools, parks, "greenbelts", baseball fields and playgrounds, and a shopping center located in neighboring Tullytown borough that was considered large and modern at the time of its construction (and in fact was the largest east of the Mississippi). The first set of four sample homes were put on display in a swatch of land near the future Levittown Shop-a-Rama, and an estimated 30,000 people viewed them in that first weekend.[4]

Select the Best Veterinary Technician College near Levittown PA

Levittown PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Levittown PA.