Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Schellsburg PA

How to Pick a Vet Tech Program near Schellsburg Pennsylvania

Schellsburg PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Schellsburg PA may initially feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their homes. Once they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important factors when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Schellsburg PA

cat with cone after surgery in Schellsburg PA Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can perform within the Schellsburg PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing 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. Normally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically earn a 2 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 general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination 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 required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Schellsburg PA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Schellsburg

student attending online vet tech school in Schellsburg PA An option that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to 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 educational program is taught using various venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Schellsburg PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for instance for commuting and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Schellsburg PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Schellsburg PA vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinary credential that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Schellsburg PA area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you want to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a demanding review process that verifies you will receive 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 programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many Schellsburg PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet 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 complaints or violations concerning your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Schellsburg PA veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Schellsburg PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college 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 evaluating. A lower rate might signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Schellsburg PA veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Schellsburg PA schools you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Schellsburg PA home, you need to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the vet schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Schellsburg PA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Schellsburg PA?

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

Schellsburg, Pennsylvania

Schellsburg was so named after John Schell who settled and founded the community. John Schell's grandfather Michael Schell first arrived in Philadelphia from the Palatinate by way of Rotterdam in 1727, after which more family members arrived in 1732 and again in 1738. In 1732 when he returned with other members of his family, Michael Schell purchased a substantial tract of land where he settled with his family in the Perkiomen Valley northwest of Philadelphia, an area in Upper Hanover Township later known as East Greenville, in what was then Philadelphia County and became Montgomery County in 1760. The adjoining community of Hillegassville was named after its founder Johann Frederick Hillegass. His granddaughter Elizabeth Barbara Hillegass married John Schell, Jr., who was born in 1725 at the family homestead granted to his father John Schell, Sr., the youngest son of Michael Schell who died in 1770.

At an early age, John Schell, Jr. became possessed of considerable means after his patriotic service in the Revolutionary War and his father's death in 1777. For many years he traveled extensively on business through Bedford County, western Pennsylvania and Kentucky, which was admitted as a state in 1792. He was impressed by the climate and fertile soil in Kentucky, decided to remove there and select land to establish his own community for his family and friends. In the spring of 1800, John Schell and his family, consisting of his wife, eight young children and his widowed mother, left their home in Montgomery County and traveled west. When they arrived at the Ohio River, he realized that it would be unsafe for his family to traverse the river by boat due to the Indians. He returned through Napier Township in Bedford County and decided instead to settle in what is the present location of Schellsburg.

On May 1, 1800, John Schell purchased large tracts of land of more than 1,500 acres (6.1 km2), which were later divided into farms and given to each of his sons with an equivalent in money and land to his daughters. His own homestead was constructed on property located outside the town of Schellsburg. John Schell generously donated land for schools, churches and town lots and granted parcels to the town and its citizens. In 1808 he laid out the town lots, developed the community and provided impetus for construction of the nearby turnpike as its first president. After he settled in Bedford County, relatives and neighbors in Montgomery County followed and settled in the area and the immediate vicinity. Schellsburg was incorporated as the second borough of Bedford County in 1838. The town was designated as the Schellsburg Historic District in 2001 and included on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of the town's rich architectural heritage of buildings constructed of log and stone in the 19th century.[4]

Pick the Ideal Vet Tech School near Schellsburg PA

Schellsburg PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech school is an important first step to starting a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their selection based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you choose 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 provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Schellsburg PA.