Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Glens Falls NY

How to Pick a Vet Tech Program near Glens Falls New York

Glens Falls NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Glens Falls NY could initially feel like a daunting task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their residences. After they have found some local schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when evaluating vet tech schools, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the vet tech schools you are considering before you make a final selection. We have presented several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various roles of vet techs and the training alternatives available.

The Role of a Veterinary Technician in Glens Falls NY

cat with cone after surgery in Glens Falls NY One of the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you plan to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your preference might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are numerous jobs that they can perform within the Glens Falls NY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and typically earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more complicated duties, such as assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires four years to complete. So the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Glens Falls NY labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Glens Falls

student attending online vet tech school in Glens Falls NY An approach that might make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Glens Falls NY veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for commuting and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask Glens Falls NY Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Glens Falls NY vet tech schools At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Glens Falls NY area and across the United States, you need to ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously stated, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that ensures you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not offered for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Glens Falls NY area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select should have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for references 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 New York school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations involving your specific schools. As a final pointer, contact some Glens Falls NY veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Glens Falls NY veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate might suggest that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an excellent reputation within the Glens Falls NY veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might indicate that the training is not well 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 individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Glens Falls NY schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we already covered location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Glens Falls NY home, you need to make sure that the driving time fits into 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 college is located in or close by a larger city. Also, if you do choose to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s essential that you determine if the vet schools 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 Glens Falls NY. Some may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later 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 might miss because of work, illness or family emergencies. You might find that an online college is the best way to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Glens Falls NY?

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

Glens Falls, New York

Glens Falls is a city in Warren County, New York, United States and is the central city of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.[4] The population was 14,700 at the 2010 census.[5] The name was given by Colonel Johannes Glen, the falls referring to a large waterfall in the Hudson River at the southern end of the city.[6]

Glens Falls is a city located in the southeast corner of Warren County, surrounded by the town of Queensbury to the north, east, and west, and by the Hudson River and Saratoga County to the south. Glens Falls is known as "Hometown U.S.A.", a title given to it by Look Magazine in 1944. The city has also referred to itself in the past as the "Empire City."[7]

As a halfway point between Fort Edward and Fort William Henry, the falls was the site of several battles during the French and Indian War and the Revolutionary War. The then-hamlet was mostly destroyed by fire twice during the latter conflict, forcing the Quakers to abandon the settlement until the war ended in 1783. Fire also ravaged the village in 1864, 1884, and 1902.[7]

Choose the Right Vet Tech Program near Glens Falls NY

Glens Falls NY vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal veterinary technician program is a critical first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech schools must make their determination based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding 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 reduce your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right program, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Glens Falls NY.