Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools West Chester PA

How to Find the Right Veterinary Technician Program near West Chester Pennsylvania

West Chester PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near West Chester PA may initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a college that will furnish the proper training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their homes. When they have found some nearby schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when comparing vet tech programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in West Chester PA

cat with cone after surgery in West Chester PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the primary determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can perform within the West Chester PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved tasks, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So the main distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in West Chester PA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in West Chester

student attending online vet tech school in West Chester PA An approach that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using multiple venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local West Chester PA veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

What to Ask West Chester PA Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask West Chester PA vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the West Chester PA area as well as across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to choose a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous screening process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of West Chester PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with internet school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some West Chester PA vet clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with West Chester PA veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through 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 veterinarian community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate could signify that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate might indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the West Chester PA vet community and has a significant 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 a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the West Chester PA programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your West Chester PA home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet 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 in the evenings near West Chester PA. Some might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near West Chester PA?

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

West Chester, Pennsylvania

Much of the West Chester University of Pennsylvania North Campus and the Chester County government are located within the borough. The center of town is located at the intersection of Market and High Streets.

The area was originally known as Turk's Head—after the inn of the same name located in what is now the center of the borough.[5] West Chester has been the seat of government in Chester County since 1786 when the seat was moved from nearby Chester in what is now Delaware County. The borough was incorporated in 1799.[6] In the heart of town is its courthouse, a classical revival building designed in the 1840s by Thomas U. Walter, one of the architects for the Capitol in Washington, D.C.[7] In the 18th century West Chester was a center of clockmaking. In the late 19th century the Hoopes, Bro. and Darlington company became a major wheelworks, first for wagons and later automobiles.[8][9] In the early 20th century, an important industry was the Sharples cream separator company.[10] In the late 20th century, Commodore International, one of the pioneers of home computers, giving its headquarters as West Chester, was located approximately a mile northeast of the borough.[citation needed]

The West Chester Downtown Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. Other listed buildings are the Bank of Chester County, Buckwalter Building, Butler House, Chester County Courthouse, William Everhart Buildings, Farmers and Mechanics Building, First Presbyterian Church of West Chester, New Century Clubhouse, Joseph Rothrock House, Sharples Homestead, Sharples Separator Works, Warner Theater, West Chester Boarding School for Boys, and the components of the West Chester State College Quadrangle Historic District.[11]

Select the Right Vet Tech Program near West Chester PA

West Chester PA vet tech holding dog Picking the ideal veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech schools need to make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as 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 field. This goes for vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in West Chester PA.