Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Old Chatham NY

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Old Chatham New York

Old Chatham NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term aspiration of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Old Chatham NY might initially seem like a challenging endeavor. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the correct selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. After they have located some nearby colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and focus on those. Although location and cost are important concerns when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Old Chatham NY

cat with cone after surgery in Old Chatham NY Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want 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 invest in your education, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can carry out within the Old Chatham NY veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by completing 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 associated with more involved tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and normally obtain 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 vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex activities, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Old Chatham

student attending online vet tech school in Old Chatham NY An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinarian school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are offered through 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 the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Old Chatham NY veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenses, for instance for travel and study materials, can 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 agency. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Old Chatham NY Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Old Chatham NY vet tech schools By now you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Old Chatham NY area as well as across the United States, you should ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you need to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose 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 undergone a demanding review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Old Chatham NY area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on online 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 complaints or violations concerning your targeted schools. As a final pointer, call some Old Chatham NY vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs set up with Old Chatham NY veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate may signify that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could signify that the school has an excellent reputation within the Old Chatham NY veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Old Chatham NY programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Old Chatham NY home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with 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 campus is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Old Chatham NY. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss as a result of illness, work or family issues. You might discover that an online school is the ideal solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Old Chatham NY?

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

Old Chatham, New York

The center of Old Chatham is marked by a few businesses around the intersection of the Albany Turnpike and County Rt. 13. These businesses include the United States Post Office for area code 12136, the Old Chatham Country Store (which includes a cafe/restaurant), and Jackson's Old Chatham House (another restaurant). The Old Chatham Sheepherding Company is also located in Old Chatham. The Wilbor House, also known as The Thompson Farm, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.[2] Old Chatham is also the headquarters of Blass Communications. The town hosts a parade and sing-along that attracts over 1,000 people annually.

Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech Program near Old Chatham NY

Old Chatham NY vet tech holding dog Choosing the appropriate veterinary technician school is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students considering vet tech colleges must make their selection based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding 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 alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by picking the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Old Chatham NY.