Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Wells Tannery PA

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Wells Tannery Pennsylvania

Wells Tannery PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Wells Tannery PA could initially seem like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing colleges so that you can make the right selection? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. Once they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are significant concerns when evaluating vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Wells Tannery PA

cat with cone after surgery in Wells Tannery PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization appeals to 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 while there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Wells Tannery PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires 4 years. So 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 options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Wells Tannery

student attending online vet tech school in Wells Tannery PA An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full time while going to vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Wells Tannery PA veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, such as for traveling and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Wells Tannery PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Wells Tannery PA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinary credential that you wish 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 Wells Tannery PA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a rigorous review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for many Wells Tannery PA area veterinarian clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Wells Tannery PA vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Wells Tannery PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the practical training, but an internship may also help build connections in the local vet community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Wells Tannery PA veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean 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 most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Wells Tannery PA programs you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Wells Tannery PA home, you must confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, 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 in or near a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the vet programs you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Wells Tannery PA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Wells Tannery PA?

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

Saltillo, Pennsylvania

Saltillo was named after the Mexican War Battle of Saltillo (23 October 1840). It was a major tanning center during the late 19th andearly20th centuries. The Leas and McVitty Tannery was located here, known for quality hides. The main line of the East Broad Top Railroad (EBT) was built through Saltillo in 1874. The railroad served the tannery as well as a short-lived iron mine and an equally short-lived limestone quarry, both just southeast of town.

Saltillo was an important place on the EBT, acting as a base station for the long grade up to Broad Top Mountain. The EBT had a three-track yard, a station, a water tank and a turning wye located here. Just after the turn of the 20th century a large Ganister quarry was established above Saltillo on Jacks Mountain by Mount Union Refractories (later United States Refractories and North American Refractories) to supply their plant in Mount Union, Pennsylvania. In 1942 a spur was built from the EBT yard in Saltillo, which climbed the mountain to a tipple below the quarry. The branch was the steepest track on the EBT and remained in service until the line closed in 1956. The quarry continued to operate into the 1970s, served by trucks. The EBT tracks in Saltillo are still in place. The water tank was burned by vandals in the late 1980s and the station was demolished in the mid-2000s after being allowed to deteriorate to deplorable condition.

Around 1935 the skeleton of a mastodon was discovered behind the ball field in Saltillo by two young men digging a drainage ditch. They excavated several bones, teeth and both tusks. They gave them to C.R. Cornelius the landowner, who later donated them to Penn State University where they can be seen today. In the 1990s Penn State reopened the dig and found even more bones that were missed during the first excavation.

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician School near Wells Tannery PA

Wells Tannery PA vet tech holding dog Picking the right vet tech program is a critical first step to beginning a rewarding career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech programs must make their selection based on several key issues. 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 animals when needed. As we have covered, 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 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 alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Wells Tannery PA.