Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Mount Union PA

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Mount Union Pennsylvania

Mount Union PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Mount Union PA may initially feel like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you must search for and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students begin their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. Once they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Mount Union PA

cat with cone after surgery in Mount Union PA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Mount Union PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, 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 vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared with assistants and generally acquire a two 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 fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex functions, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes four years. Therefore 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 career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Mount Union PA labs or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Mount Union

student attending online vet tech school in Mount Union PA An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Mount Union PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. 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 self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Mount Union PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Mount Union PA vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Mount Union PA area and across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed 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 internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier 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 an extensive screening process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for a number of Mount Union PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet 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 violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Mount Union PA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Mount Union PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help establish relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate could indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Mount Union PA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Mount Union PA programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also want to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Mount Union PA home, you must confirm 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, especially if the college is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college 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 may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s imperative that you find out if the vet schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Mount Union PA. Some may only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family issues. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Mount Union PA?

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

Mount Union, Pennsylvania

Mount Union is a borough in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, approximately 44 miles (71 km) southeast of Altoona and 12 miles (19 km) southeast of Huntingdon, on the Juniata River. In the vicinity are found bituminous coal, ganister rock, fire clay, and some timber. A major Easter grass factory is located in the northern quadrant of the borough limits; until May 2007, the facility was owned by Bleyer Industries.[3] The population was 2,447 at the 2010 census.

Mount Union was largely influenced by industry. It was at one time the world's largest producer of refractory material (silica brick), with three plants – General Refractories, United States Refractories, and Harbison Walker. The refractory business in Mount Union lasted from 1899 to about 1972, with limited production into the early 1990s. Other industries included two tanneries, a tanning extract plant, coal yards, an explosives and munitions plant (Aetna), and foundry and machine shops.

Mount Union was the northern terminus for the narrow gauge East Broad Top Railroad, connecting to the Main Line of the Middle Division of the Pennsylvania Railroad (now Norfolk Southern). The EBT maintained a large dual-gauge yard and coal cleaning plant in Mount Union and supplied coal to the Refractory plants. The EBT ceased operations in 1956 but the track is still in place and owned by the railroad. From 1998 to 2010, the Mount Union Connecting Railroad attempted to reactivate the EBT main track through Mount Union and rehabilitated it, but only a couple cars were serviced and none moved over the EBT trackage.

Select the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Mount Union PA

Mount Union PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Mount Union PA.