Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Lewisberry PA

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Lewisberry Pennsylvania

Lewisberry PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Lewisberry PA might at first feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must locate and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. When they have identified some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when evaluating vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Lewisberry PA

cat with cone after surgery in Lewisberry PA Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Lewisberry PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the duties and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, 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 technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. So the only real distinction 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, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also 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. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Lewisberry PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Lewisberry

student attending online vet tech school in Lewisberry PA An option that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Lewisberry PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for traveling and study materials, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the ideal choice for you.

What to Ask Lewisberry PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Lewisberry PA vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Lewisberry PA area and across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a precondition for employment for a number of Lewisberry PA area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Lewisberry PA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Lewisberry PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges 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 Lewisberry PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lewisberry PA colleges you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Lewisberry PA home, you have 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a larger city. Also, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Lewisberry PA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lewisberry PA?

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

Lewisberry, Pennsylvania

The lands in and around the borough of Lewisberry were under control of the Susquehannock people until the first Quaker settlements in the 1730s. These settlements were among the first Quaker settlements in America west of the Susquehanna River. Among the group of original titleholders along the small creek that would become known as Bennett Run were Ellis Lewis, Joseph Bennett, John Rankin, John Heald, and John Hall. At this time, the area that would become York County was still almost entirely populated by the Susquehannock Indians. Yet there are few recorded conflicts between these early settlers and the native population. In this area that would later become majority Pennsylvania German, the first and second waves of settlers were almost entirely English speakers and included the Kirks, Rankins, Huttons, Garetsons, Nebingers, Eppleys, Starrs, Fosters, Clines, Stromingers, Moores, Frankelbergers, Suttons, Wickershams, Prowells, Millers, and Hammonds. While most were Quakers, a significant minority were Anglicans. The Quaker meeting house at the intersection of Old Quaker and Lewisberry roads (PA 382) is the original Quaker meeting house in the area.

The borough's founder, Eli Lewis, was born nearby in 1750, the son of one of the original settlers, Ellis Lewis. On the eve of the American Revolution, Eli opened a store on the site of the current borough. Lewis and members of other prominent families in the area served in the Pennsylvania militia, and Eli rose to the rank of major. Over the course of the war, the town became known for producing guns, and the Committee of Safety for York County contracted with area gunsmiths to supply the Continental Army; guns made in Lewisberry were in use by the US Army as late as the Siege of Veracruz during the Mexican–American War of 1846. Following the Revolutionary War, Lewis' fortune grew (and he eventually owned 850 acres in the area) and his store was the center of commerce in the Redland Valley. In 1798, Issac Kirk surveyed twelve acres of land and laid out lots for Lewis, who wanted a town to exist on the site. While all of the lots were not immediately sold, many were, and the town began a modest growth. Between 1790 and 1798, Major Lewis had lived in Harrisburg, where he took up printing and published the first Harrisburg newspaper, The Advertiser, which was then sold to John Wyeth, who renamed it The Oracle of Dauphin. While living in Harrisburg, Lewis also published the popular poem, "St. Clair's Defeat," which described the defeat of Arthur St. Clair by the tribes of the Western Confederacy during the Battle of the Wabash.

Lewisberry was not incorporated until 1832, fifty years later, and the first census figures of 1840 show a population of 220. In 1800, Henry Ensminger opened a large tannery just south of town that was later owned and operated by Samuel Grove. More significant for the town's growth was John Herman, who built a large flour mill on the west side of the borough. But the town's most successful operator was Andrew Cline, who ran a large and successful milling business during the second half of the 19th century. The mill and house are still standing just outside the borough beside Silver Lake, which was created to power the mill. One of Lewisberry's most important small industries during the 19th and early 20th centuries was the manufacture of block brimstone matches, and the families of Lyman Lewis, Herman Kirk, Moses Magrew, Rt. Starr, and Lyman Shettle became prosperous through this industry.

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Lewisberry PA

Lewisberry PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal veterinary technician college is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Lewisberry PA.