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How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician School near Lurgan Pennsylvania

Lurgan PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Lurgan PA could at first feel like a challenging endeavor. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. After they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Lurgan PA

cat with cone after surgery in Lurgan PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can carry out within the Lurgan PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and generally obtain 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 fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Lurgan

student attending online vet tech school in Lurgan PA An option that might 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 training program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Lurgan PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for commuting and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Lurgan PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Lurgan PA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Lurgan PA area and across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, 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 an extensive screening process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Lurgan PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with 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 tip, get in touch with some Lurgan PA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Lurgan PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the program has an outstanding reputation within the Lurgan PA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Lurgan PA colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students relating to 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 College Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Lurgan PA home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you find out if the veterinarian 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 attend classes on the weekends or at night near Lurgan PA. Some might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lurgan PA?

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

Pennsylvania Route 997

Pennsylvania Route 997 (PA 997) is a 49.0-mile (78.9 km) route in Franklin and Cumberland counties in central Pennsylvania. The route runs from the Maryland state line south of Waynesboro, where it continues into that state as Maryland Route 64 (MD 64), north to PA 233 in the Upper Mifflin Township community of McCrea. PA 997 heads north from the state line through agricultural areas in the Cumberland Valley and passes through Waynesboro, where it intersects PA 16, and Mont Alto, where it intersects the south end of PA 233, before coming to U.S. Route 30 (US 30) in Greenwood. From here, the route turns northwest and comes to a junction with Interstate 81 (I-81) and PA 696 near Scotland and US 11 in Green Village. PA 997 crosses PA 433 in Culbertson and heads north along the eastern border of Letterkenny Army Depot to Pleasant Hall, where it crosses PA 533. The route continues north through rural areas and intersects PA 433 near Lurgan and PA 641 in Roxbury before heading northeast and reaching an interchange with the Pennsylvania Turnpike (I-76) near Blue Mountain. PA 997 leaves Franklin County for Cumberland County and intersects the north end of PA 696 before continuing to McCrea.

PA 997 was designated in 1928 between Mont Alto and US 30 in Fayetteville along Mont Alto Road. The same year, the present route between the Maryland border and Waynesboro became part of PA 316 while the section between Lurgan and Roxbury became part of PA 433. PA 333 was designated in 1928 to run from US 30 in Chambersburg northeast to US 11 in Shippensburg, heading north to Pleasant Hall, west to Upper Strasburg, northeast to Roxbury, east to Newburg, and south to Shippensburg. By 1930, PA 997 was extended south from Mont Alto to PA 16 in Waynesboro, while PA 333 was moved to a more direct alignment between Pleasant Hall and Roxbury (running concurrent with PA 433 between Lurgan and Roxbury) and PA 996 was designated onto the road between Scotland and Green Village. In 1937, PA 997 was extended south to MD 60 at the Maryland border south of Waynesboro and northwest to US 11 in Green Village, replacing PA 996 between Scotland and Green Village, while the north end of PA 333 was cut back to PA 433 in Lurgan and PA 944 was designated onto the road between Roxbury and McCrea. PA 997 swapped alignments with PA 316 south of Waynesboro in 1941, being rerouted to end at MD 64 at the Maryland border. PA 333 was rerouted to head southeast from Pleasant Hall to PA 433 in Culbertson in the 1940s, with a section of the former alignment south of Pleasant Hall removed for the Letterkenny Army Depot. PA 997 was extended north from Green Village to PA 233 in McCrea, replacing the entire length of PA 333, PA 433 between Lurgan and Roxbury, and PA 944 between Roxbury and McCrea. The route was shifted east to its current alignment between Mont Alto and north of Fayetteville in 1977.

PA 997 begins at the Maryland state line in Washington Township, Franklin County, where the road continues south into that state as MD 64. From the state line, the route heads north-northwest as two-lane undivided Anthony Highway through farmland with some trees and homes. The road crosses the East Branch Little Antietam Creek and soon enters the borough of Waynesboro, where the name becomes State Hill Road, where it passes residences and commercial development. PA 997 curves northwest and immediately turns northeast onto Clayton Avenue, passing homes and coming to an intersection with PA 16. Here, the route turns northwest to form a concurrency with PA 16 on East Main Street, passing homes and businesses before continuing into the downtown area. At the center of town, PA 997 splits from PA 16 by turning northeast onto North Church Street, heading through more residential areas with a few businesses. The route leaves Waynesboro for Washington Township again and becomes Anthony Highway, passing more development before heading into a mix of farms and woods. The road crosses into Quincy Township and curves northwest and north again as it runs through more rural areas with some residential and commercial development, passing through the communities of Quincy and Knepper.[3][4]

Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech College near Lurgan PA

Lurgan PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lurgan PA.