Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Mercersburg PA

How to Find the Right Vet Tech Program near Mercersburg Pennsylvania

Mercersburg PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Mercersburg PA might initially seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the ideal selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have located some nearby schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician schools you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Mercersburg PA

cat with cone after surgery in Mercersburg PA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Mercersburg PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared to assistants and normally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated activities, such as assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Mercersburg

student attending online vet tech school in Mercersburg PA An alternative that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Mercersburg PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for instance for travel and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Mercersburg PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Mercersburg PA vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Mercersburg PA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 demanding review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Mercersburg PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking 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 infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Mercersburg PA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They may even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Mercersburg PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate could suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Mercersburg PA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify 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, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Mercersburg PA programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Mercersburg 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 drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in 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, attending online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the vet schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Mercersburg PA. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Mercersburg PA?

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

Mercersburg, Pennsylvania

Mercersburg is a borough in Franklin County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is 72 miles (116 km) southwest of Harrisburg, the state capital. Originally called "Black Town", it was incorporated in 1831. In 1900, 956 people lived here, and in 1910, 1,410 people lived here. The population was 1,561 at the 2010 census.[3]

Mercersburg is located in southwestern Franklin County at 39°49′46″N 77°54′7″W / 39.82944°N 77.90194°W / 39.82944; -77.90194 (39.829388, -77.901952).[8] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 0.89 square miles (2.3 km2), all of it land.[3]

Mercersburg is located at the eastern foot of Cove Mountain on the west side of the Great Appalachian Valley. The borough is 7.5 miles (12.1 km) north of the Mason–Dixon line, which serves as the state border with Maryland. Whitetail Ski Resort and golf course are located 7 miles (11 km) south of the town.

Choose the Right Vet Tech Program near Mercersburg PA

Mercersburg PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech schools need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal program, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Mercersburg PA.