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How to Pick a Vet Tech School near Bedford New York

Bedford NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Bedford NY may at first feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will furnish the appropriate training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you approach reviewing and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal selection? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have found some local schools, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Bedford NY

cat with cone after surgery in Bedford NY One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Bedford NY veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more involved undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual responsibilities may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and usually acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically takes 4 years. So the only real 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 opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Bedford NY labs or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Bedford

student attending online vet tech school in Bedford NY An approach that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Bedford NY veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for traveling and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make sure that the program that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Bedford NY Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Bedford NY vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Bedford NY area and across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs 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 agency. As earlier stated, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone a rigorous review process that verifies you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a requirement for employment for many Bedford NY area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary 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 suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the New York school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final pointer, contact some Bedford NY veterinary clinics that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best means to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs arranged with Bedford NY veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help develop relationships in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A low rate might mean that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate could indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Bedford NY vet community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Bedford NY schools you are looking at what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to attend a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to 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 College Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Bedford NY home, you have to make sure 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, particularly if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the vet colleges you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Bedford NY. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Bedford NY?

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

Bedford (town), New York

The town of Bedford was founded on December 23, 1680, when 22 Puritans from Stamford, Connecticut, purchased a tract of land three miles square known as the "Hopp Ground" from Chief Katonah and several other Native Americans for coats, blankets, wampum and cloth.[7]

Bedford was made a part of Connecticut in 1697 when a patent fixed the boundaries as a six-mile square. Only when King William III of England issued a royal decree in 1700 settling a boundary dispute did Bedford become part of New York.

The town served as the county seat of Westchester County during the American Revolutionary War after the Battle of White Plains, until Bedford was burned by the British in July 1779.[8][9] After the Revolution, Bedford was made one of two seats of county government, alternating with White Plains, until 1870. Westchester County's oldest government building is the Court House in Bedford village, which was built in 1787 and renovated in the 1960s.

Enroll in the Best Veterinary Technician School near Bedford NY

Bedford NY vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into vet tech programs must make their decision based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Bedford NY.