Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools North Wales PA

How to Find the Right Vet Tech Program near North Wales Pennsylvania

North Wales PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near North Wales PA could initially seem like a daunting task. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the proper training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the ideal choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their residences. After they have identified some local colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when comparing vet technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make a final choice. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the varied roles of vet techs and the training options available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in North Wales PA

cat with cone after surgery in North Wales PA One of 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 preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the North Wales PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured 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 vocational school. 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 complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in North Wales PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in North Wales

student attending online vet tech school in North Wales PA An option that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local North Wales PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, such as for traveling and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask North Wales PA Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask North Wales PA vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the North Wales PA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a college that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many North Wales PA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian vocational school or college and program you select must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include checking with online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, phone some North Wales PA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with North Wales PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the clinical training, but an internship can also help build associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate might signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the North Wales PA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not well 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, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the North Wales PA programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your North Wales PA home, you have to make certain 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 drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you ascertain if the vet programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near North Wales PA. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near North Wales PA?

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

North Wales, Pennsylvania

North Wales is a borough in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. It is a suburb of Philadelphia, and is one of the three historic population centers that make up the North Penn Valley, which is centered around the borough of Lansdale. The population was 3,229 at the 2010 census.

Like many small boroughs in Pennsylvania, North Wales is at "build out", meaning that its boundaries have not kept up with population growth. Summarily, many businesses and residences with North Wales addresses are located in outlying townships that were never annexed by the borough, such as the Montgomery Mall in Montgomery Township. North Wales is in the North Penn School District.

As its name suggests, North Wales was settled by Welsh immigrants who named it after North Wales in Wales (for more on Welsh settlements in colonial Pennsylvania, see "Welsh Tract"). Part of a 1702 William Penn land grant, this rich farming country was given the name "Gwynedd" for the homeland of the earliest settlers and it began as a pastoral village in agricultural Gwynedd Township.

Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech College near North Wales PA

North Wales PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech school is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their determination based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in North Wales PA.