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How to Enroll In a Vet Tech School near Southwest Pennsylvania

Southwest PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Southwest PA may at first seem like a daunting task. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the proper selection? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. Once they have found some area colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important factors when comparing vet tech programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make a final choice. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Southwest PA

cat with cone after surgery in Southwest PA One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many duties that they can carry out within the Southwest PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Southwest PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Southwest

student attending online vet tech school in Southwest PA An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are made available by means of the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Southwest PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for example for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Southwest PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Southwest PA vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Southwest PA area and across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 rigorous screening process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for many Southwest PA area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Southwest PA vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Southwest PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college can 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 lower rate could suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Southwest PA veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may mean 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 larger, you most likely will receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Southwest PA programs you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we already covered 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 Southwest PA home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, 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 near or in a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Southwest PA. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Southwest PA?

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

Southwest, Pennsylvania

Select the Best Veterinary Technician Program near Southwest PA

Southwest PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician college is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students considering veterinary technician colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent 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 options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Southwest PA.