Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Montoursville PA

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Montoursville Pennsylvania

Montoursville PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Montoursville PA could initially feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle assessing and comparing programs so that you can make the ideal choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. After they have located some area colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when evaluating veterinary technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Montoursville PA

cat with cone after surgery in Montoursville PA Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can perform within the Montoursville PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, 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 involved with more complicated undertakings, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared to assistants and generally earn a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated functions, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Montoursville

student attending online vet tech school in Montoursville PA An option that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Montoursville PA veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for travel and study supplies, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just confirm that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Montoursville PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Montoursville PA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you wish to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Montoursville PA area and across the USA, you need to ask some relevant questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to choose a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Montoursville PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin 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 ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, call some Montoursville PA veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Montoursville PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician 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 low rate could mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Montoursville PA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Montoursville PA schools you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Montoursville PA home, you need to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by a large 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 costs especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian 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 go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Montoursville PA. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Montoursville PA?

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

Montoursville, Pennsylvania

Montoursville is a borough in Lycoming County, Pennsylvania, in the United States. As of the 2000 census, the borough population was 4,777. It is part of the Williamsport, Pennsylvania Metropolitan Statistical Area. The Williamsport Regional Airport is located in Montoursville.

Developed on the east bank of the river near the former native village of Otstonwakin, the borough is named for Andrew Montour, the French/Native American and son of Madame Montour. Madame Montour was a Native American interpreter and negotiator who was important in colonial history for her service to the British in New York and Pennsylvania. She was considered the leader of the native village. Her son Andrew Montour also became influential as an interpreter and negotiator, serving colonial governments in Pennsylvania and Virginia, including during the French and Indian War.

Otstawonkin was a native village located at the mouth of Loyalsock Creek on the West Branch Susquehanna River. The Great Shamokin Path ran along the west bank of the river, where late 20th century archeology has shown the village was mostly located.[5] During the 1730s and 1740s, it became an important stopping point for Moravian missionaries who preached in frontier Pennsylvania. For example, Count Zinzendorf, a missionary guided by Conrad Weiser with the permission of Oneida chief Shikellamy, came to Otstonwakin in 1742.

Select the Best Vet Tech School near Montoursville PA

Montoursville PA vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, 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 schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Montoursville PA.