Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Upperstrasburg PA

How to Find the Right Vet Tech School near Upperstrasburg Pennsylvania

Upperstrasburg PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Upperstrasburg PA may at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the proper selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. Once they have identified some nearby schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important concerns when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only important ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make an ultimate choice. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Upperstrasburg PA

cat with cone after surgery in Upperstrasburg PA One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the primary determiner 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 direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can perform within the Upperstrasburg PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a formal 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 vets and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job function 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 activities, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes four years. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, 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 can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Upperstrasburg PA labs or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Upperstrasburg

student attending online vet tech school in Upperstrasburg PA An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can usually be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Upperstrasburg PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for example for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech program may be the perfect option for you.

Questions to Ask Upperstrasburg PA Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Upperstrasburg PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Upperstrasburg PA area as well as across the Country, you must ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, 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 thorough screening process that confirms you will obtain 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 offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a precondition for employment for a number of Upperstrasburg PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final recommendation, call some Upperstrasburg PA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you receive your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Upperstrasburg PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Upperstrasburg PA veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Upperstrasburg PA schools you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Upperstrasburg PA home, you must make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate 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 large city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an option 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 find out if the veterinary schools you are looking at offer class times flexible enough 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 Upperstrasburg PA. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Upperstrasburg PA?

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

Enroll in the Best Veterinary Technician School near Upperstrasburg PA

Upperstrasburg PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the appropriate vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students considering veterinary technician schools need to make their selection based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Upperstrasburg PA.