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How to Select a Vet Tech School near Westover Pennsylvania

Westover PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Westover PA might at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the correct selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. After they have identified some local colleges, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are significant concerns when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Westover PA

cat with cone after surgery in Westover PA Among the first decisions that you will need to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your determination might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can carry out within the Westover PA veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the standard veterinarian practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing 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 execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. Therefore the only real 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, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Westover PA labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Westover

student attending online vet tech school in Westover PA An approach that might be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Westover PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for travel and study supplies, can be lower compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Westover PA Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Westover PA vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Westover PA area and across the USA, you need to ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Westover PA area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinarian trade school or college and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with 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 grievances or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, get in touch with some Westover PA veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Ask if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Westover PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical 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 can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate could indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Westover PA vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement 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 Westover PA colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Ask for feedback from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a few more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Westover 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking classes online may be an option that will give you more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you ascertain if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Westover PA. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss as a result of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Westover PA?

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

Westover, Pennsylvania

Westover is located in southern Clearfield County at 40°45′4″N 78°40′20″W / 40.75111°N 78.67222°W / 40.75111; -78.67222 (40.751017, -78.672239),[4] in the valley of Chest Creek, a north-flowing tributary of the West Branch Susquehanna River. The borough's southern border is the northern boundary of Cambria County. Pennsylvania Route 36 passes through the borough, leading north 7 miles (11 km) to Newburg and south 10 miles (16 km) to Patton.

According to the United States Census Bureau, Westover has a total area of 2.7 square miles (7.1 km2), of which 2.7 square miles (7.0 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.1 km2), or 1.95%, is water.[3]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 458 people, 169 households, and 123 families residing in the borough. The population density was 166.7 people per square mile (64.3/km²). There were 182 housing units at an average density of 66.3 per square mile (25.6/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 98.91% White, 0.44% Asian, and 0.66% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.31% of the population.

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech School near Westover PA

Westover PA vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students considering veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the right college, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Westover PA.