Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Saint Marys PA

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Saint Marys Pennsylvania

Saint Marys PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Saint Marys PA may initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing schools so that you can make the correct selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have found some area colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant considerations when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the various roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Saint Marys PA

cat with cone after surgery in Saint Marys PA One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary 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 supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Saint Marys PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically perform the same job functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Saint Marys

student attending online vet tech school in Saint Marys PA An approach that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Saint Marys PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Saint Marys PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Saint Marys PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Saint Marys PA area and across the United States, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech school you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among 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 screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Saint Marys PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Saint Marys PA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs established with Saint Marys PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might signify that the college has an outstanding reputation within the Saint Marys PA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly 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 may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Saint Marys PA programs you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Saint Marys PA home, you need to 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, particularly if the school is located near or in a large city. In addition, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? 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 Saint Marys PA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Saint Marys PA?

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

St. Marys, Pennsylvania

St. Marys is a city in Elk County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 13,070 at the 2010 census. Originally a small town inhabited by mostly Bavarian Roman Catholics, it was founded December 8, 1842. It is home to Straub Brewery and the first Benedictine convent in the United States. In 1992, the borough of St. Marys absorbed the surrounding township of Benzinger and incorporated as a city.[3]

St. Marys lies in the center of Pennsylvania's elk country. It is one of the few places east of the Mississippi River that allows hunting of wild elk. The area is known for its access to outdoor activities, including trout streams and state hunting lands inside the city limits.[citation needed]

The town was founded as Marienstadt (Mary's City). Many historic structures are located within the boundaries of the St. Marys Historic District, added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. The Decker's Chapel and John E. Weidenboerner House are also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4]

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Saint Marys PA

Saint Marys PA vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students thinking about vet tech schools need to make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the best college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Saint Marys PA.