Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Slippery Rock PA

How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Slippery Rock Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Slippery Rock PA might at first seem like an overwhelming endeavor. After all, you have to locate and enroll in a school that will provide the necessary training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their homes. When they have located some local colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant considerations when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate choice. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Slippery Rock PA

cat with cone after surgery in Slippery Rock PA Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many functions that they can perform within the Slippery Rock PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and usually obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes 4 years. So the main distinction 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 possible management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Slippery Rock PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Slippery Rock

student attending online vet tech school in Slippery Rock PA An alternative that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Slippery Rock PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for example for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make certain that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Slippery Rock PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Slippery Rock PA vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Slippery Rock PA area as well as across the USA, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist 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 verify that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that confirms you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Slippery Rock PA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, phone some Slippery Rock PA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Slippery Rock PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of 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 mean that the program has an excellent reputation within the Slippery Rock PA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Slippery Rock PA programs you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine 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 going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Slippery Rock PA home, you must confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located close by or within a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Slippery Rock PA. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Slippery Rock PA?

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

Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania

Slippery Rock is a borough in Butler County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 3,625 at the 2010 census.[4] It is home to the Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania. Slippery Rock is included in the Pittsburgh, PA Metropolitan Statistical Area.

Slippery Rock is located in northwest Butler County at 41°3′49″N 80°3′18″W / 41.06361°N 80.05500°W / 41.06361; -80.05500 (41.063746, -80.055007).[5] According to the United States Census Bureau, the borough has a total area of 1.7 square miles (4.3 km2), all of it land.[4]Slippery Rock Creek, the borough's namesake, runs through a valley 2 miles (3 km) south of the borough.

Since the 1960s Slippery Rock has been well served by the Interstate Highway system as Interstate 79 (north-south) and Interstate 80 (east-west) cross 12 miles (19 km) to the north. The closest access to I-79 is 4 miles (6 km) to the west on Pennsylvania Route 108. PA 258 (N. Main Street) leads northwest 7.7 miles (12.4 km) to I-79.

Enroll in the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Slippery Rock PA

Slippery Rock PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician program is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech programs must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients 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 profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Slippery Rock PA.