Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Portersville PA

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech Program near Portersville Pennsylvania

Portersville PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Portersville PA may at first seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you have to find and enroll in a college that will furnish the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the right selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. When they have identified some local colleges, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet tech programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate decision. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Portersville PA

cat with cone after surgery in Portersville PA One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can perform within the Portersville PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances 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 vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Portersville PA laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Portersville

student attending online vet tech school in Portersville PA An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Portersville PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenses, for example for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just confirm that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified 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 vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Portersville PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Portersville PA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinary credential that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Portersville PA area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out 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 factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a thorough screening process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable 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 Portersville PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on internet school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Portersville PA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs established with Portersville PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum 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 high placement rate might signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Portersville PA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Portersville PA programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we previously covered location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Portersville PA home, you must confirm that the driving 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, especially if the school is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes could be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Portersville PA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Portersville PA?

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

Portersville, Pennsylvania

Portersville is located near the western border of Butler County at 40°55′31″N 80°8′39″W / 40.92528°N 80.14417°W / 40.92528; -80.14417 (40.925285, -80.144229).[4] It is surrounded by Muddy Creek Township, though the borough's western border comes within 660 feet (200 m) of the Lawrence County line.

U.S. Route 19, Perry Highway, passes through the center of the borough, leading north 22 miles (35 km) to Mercer and south 9.5 miles (15.3 km) to Zelienople. Interstate 79 passes just east of the borough, with access from Exit 96 (PA 488). I-79 leads south 38 miles (61 km) to Pittsburgh and north 90 miles (140 km) to Erie. Moraine State Park, situated around Lake Arthur, is a short distance east of I-79. Portersville lies between the cities of Butler 15 miles (24 km) east and New Castle 14 miles (23 km) to the west.

Portersville has a small police force, an ambulance service, and a volunteer fire department. The Ambulance Service, Portersville EMS, and the Volunteer Fire Department, Portersville/Muddy Creek Township Volunteer Fire Department cover the Portersville area to include Muddy Creek Township, parts of Perry Township in Lawrence County, parts of Slippery Rock Township in Lawrence County, as well as Parts of Franklin Township in Butler County.

Choose the Best Veterinary Technician Program near Portersville PA

Portersville PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into veterinary technician colleges must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Portersville PA.