Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Montgomery PA

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Montgomery Pennsylvania

Montgomery PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Montgomery PA may at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the necessary training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the proper selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. Once they have located some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when assessing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Montgomery PA

cat with cone after surgery in Montgomery PA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are many duties that they can carry out within the Montgomery PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases 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 trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. Therefore the main distinction 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 additionally mandated 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. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Montgomery PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Montgomery

student attending online vet tech school in Montgomery PA An approach that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Montgomery 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, for example for travel and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Montgomery PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Montgomery PA vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Montgomery PA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to choose a college that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among 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 verifies you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Montgomery PA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Montgomery PA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain clinical 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 set up with Montgomery PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate could mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Montgomery PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Montgomery PA schools you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Montgomery PA home, you must make sure 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, especially if the campus is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinary programs you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Montgomery PA. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or 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 because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Montgomery PA?

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

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania

Montgomery County, locally also referred to as Montco, is the third-most populous county in the U.S. state and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and the 71st most populous in the United States. As of 2017, the census-estimated population of the county was 826,075, representing a 3.3% increase from the 799,884 residents enumerated in the 2010 census.[1] Montgomery County is located adjacent to and northwest of Philadelphia. The county seat is Norristown.[2] Montgomery County is geographically diverse, ranging from farms and open land in the extreme north of the county to densely populated suburban neighborhoods in the southern and central portions of the county.

Montgomery County is included in the Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD Metropolitan Statistical Area, known as the Delaware Valley. The county marks part of the Delaware Valley's northern border with the Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. In 2010, Montgomery County was the 51st wealthiest county in the country by median household income. In 2008, the county was named the 9th Best Place to Raise a Family by Forbes.[3]

The county was created on September 10, 1784, out of land originally part of Philadelphia County. The first courthouse was housed in the Barley Sheaf Inn. It is believed to have been named either for Richard Montgomery, an American Revolutionary War general killed in 1775 while attempting to capture Quebec City, or for the Welsh county of Montgomeryshire (which was named after one of William the Conqueror's main counselors, Roger de Montgomerie), as it was part of the Welsh Tract, an area of Pennsylvania settled by Quakers from Wales.[4] Early histories of the county indicate the origin of the county's name as uncertain.

Choose the Best Vet Tech School near Montgomery PA

Montgomery PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding 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 choice. And by picking the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Montgomery PA.