Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Morgantown PA

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Morgantown Pennsylvania

Morgantown PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Morgantown PA may initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to find and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. After they have found some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant factors when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Morgantown PA

cat with cone after surgery in Morgantown PA Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Morgantown PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, 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. Generally they are not associated with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared with assistants and typically obtain a 2 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 duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires 4 years to complete. 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 job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can 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 Morgantown PA labs or research facilities also.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Morgantown

student attending online vet tech school in Morgantown PA An alternative that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Morgantown 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 expenditures, for instance for travel and study supplies, may be lower compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Morgantown PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Morgantown PA vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinary credential that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Morgantown PA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough review process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Morgantown PA area vet clinics 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 community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Morgantown PA vet clinics that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Morgantown PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could signify that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Morgantown PA vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might 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 in size, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Morgantown PA programs you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding 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? Of course, we already covered location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Morgantown PA home, you must make sure that the commuting time is compatible with 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 college is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online could be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Morgantown PA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Morgantown PA?

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

Morgantown, Pennsylvania

Morgantown is a census-designated place[2] in Caernarvon Township in extreme southern Berks County, Pennsylvania, as well as partially in Caernarvon Township in Lancaster County. As of the 2010 census, the population was 826 residents.[3]

Morgantown was named after Colonel Jacob Morgan, who laid out the town around 1770. His father, Thomas Morgan, had been a native of Wales, a captain in the French and Indian War, and owner of a large tract of choice land in Caernarvon Township. Jacob Morgan settled in this area around 1765, building a large stone house, which still stands on Hartz Road between Mineview Drive and Shiloh Road. It is rumored to have housed George Washington during a brief overnight visit. The house has been restored by its owners.

Morgantown was, until the arrival of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a mostly agriculture-based settlement. Now it is much larger and busier with the settlement of several manufacturing companies, including Timet, Morgan Corp. Stoltzfus Spreaders, Viwinco Windows and McNeilus cement mixers. Other aspects of the town have grown too, especially the roads. In the 1970s the Morgantown Expressway Interstate 176 was built to interstate highway standards, providing a link between Morgantown and PA 23 and Reading and US 422.

Pick the Ideal Veterinary Technician Program near Morgantown PA

Morgantown PA vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Students considering vet tech programs must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online 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 selection. And by choosing the ideal program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Morgantown PA.