Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Summerville PA

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near Summerville Pennsylvania

Summerville PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Summerville PA could initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about reviewing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have located some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Summerville PA

cat with cone after surgery in Summerville PA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you desire to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can perform within the Summerville PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated functions, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years. So the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Summerville

student attending online vet tech school in Summerville PA An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Summerville PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for example for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Summerville PA Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Summerville PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinarian credential that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Summerville PA area and across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you need to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary School Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive screening process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for many Summerville PA area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Summerville PA veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Summerville PA veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may signify that the college has an excellent reputation within the Summerville PA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not well 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 most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Summerville PA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Summerville PA home, you must confirm 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 commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located close by or within a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinarian programs you are exploring 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 go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Summerville PA. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, sickness or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Summerville PA?

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

Summerville, Pennsylvania

Summerville is located in western Jefferson County at 41°06′59″N 79°11′18″W / 41.116428°N 79.188391°W / 41.116428; -79.188391,[5] in the valley of Redbank Creek. Pennsylvania Route 28 (Harrison Street) passes through the north side of the borough, leading northeast up the creek valley 7 miles (11 km) to Brookville, the county seat, and southwest 12 miles (19 km) to New Bethlehem.

At the 2000 census,[7] there were 525 people, 209 households and 158 families residing in the borough. The population density was 843.6 per square mile (326.9/km2). There were 241 housing units at an average density of 387.2 per square mile (150.1/km2). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.10% White, 0.57% Native American, and 1.33% from two or more races.

There were 209 households of which 29.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 61.2% were married couples living together, 10.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 24.4% of all households were made up of individuals and 13.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.44 and the average family size was 2.88.

Select the Best Vet Tech School near Summerville PA

Summerville PA vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Students looking into veterinary technician colleges need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you pick 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 reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Summerville PA.