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How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician School near Wexford Pennsylvania

Wexford PA vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Wexford PA might initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a college that will deliver the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. When they have located some area schools, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important factors when evaluating vet tech programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the various duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Wexford PA

cat with cone after surgery in Wexford PA One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Wexford PA veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have completed a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing a certificate program at a vocational school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian equivalent 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 included in more complex duties, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. Therefore the main distinction 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, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Some may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Wexford PA laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Wexford

student attending online vet tech school in Wexford PA An approach that might make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Wexford PA veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the ideal choice for you.

Things to Ask Wexford PA Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Wexford PA vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Wexford PA area as well as across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying 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 the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that ensures you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for many Wexford PA area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the Pennsylvania school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, call some Wexford PA veterinarians that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the programs you are reviewing have internship programs established with Wexford PA veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local vet community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate may indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Wexford PA veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Wexford PA schools you are considering what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Wexford PA home, you have to make sure that the commuting 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, particularly if the school is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you find out if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Wexford PA. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family issues. You may discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Wexford PA?

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

Wexford, Pennsylvania

Wexford is an unincorporated community in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The area known as Wexford is split among multiple municipalities, including Franklin Park, McCandless Township, Pine Township, and Marshall Township. It is named after County Wexford in Ireland.[2]

Home to many upper-middle-class people, Wexford's commercial landscape is dominated by a mixture of corporate chains, car dealerships, and a number of local small businesses, giving this small town much diversity. Wexford concentrated on the main thoroughfare of the "Wexford Flats", U.S. Route 19. It is also home to North Allegheny Senior High School, Pine-Richland High School, Marshall Middle School, Wexford Elementary School and Vincentian Academy.

It was ranked the twenty-eighth best place to live by Money magazine in 2005,[3] despite it being essentially a postal zip code and a general descriptor of a section of the suburban Pittsburgh metropolitan area, not a municipality of any type. The presence of North Allegheny Senior High School, a large, well funded public high school, the numerous businesses, and a number of churches along the "Wexford Flats" gives the area a more distinct community identity than simply an otherwise unremarkable suburb in the Greater Pittsburgh Area. Adjacent to Wexford is North Park and North Park lake. This area is a great asset to the community featuring many hiking/biking trails, 5-mile paved running path around the lake, many pavilions for outdoor events, outdoor ice rink, golf course, dog parks, many playgrounds, a C.O.P.E. course, and local restaurants and shops. The lake underwent construction, including dredging and refinishing shore lines, between 2009 and 2012.

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician College near Wexford PA

Wexford PA vet tech holding dog Choosing the right vet tech program is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering treatment and care for animals. Potential students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Wexford PA.