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How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Palisades New York

Palisades NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Palisades NY could initially feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will provide the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about assessing and contrasting schools so that you can make the proper choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. Once they have found some area schools, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when assessing vet technician schools, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the vet technician schools you are reviewing before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the different duties of vet techs and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Palisades NY

cat with cone after surgery in Palisades NY Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your determination may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are a number of jobs that they can perform within the Palisades NY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex activities, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their normal responsibilities 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 earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part perform the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. A number may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Palisades NY labs or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Palisades

student attending online vet tech school in Palisades NY An alternative that may be a solution for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Palisades NY veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant fashion, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Palisades NY Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Palisades NY vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinarian degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Palisades NY area as well as across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other important qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose 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 veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that ensures you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is often a requirement for employment for a number of Palisades NY area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you choose must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the New York school licensing department if there have been any grievances or violations relating to your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Palisades NY vet clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the colleges you are reviewing have internship programs arranged with Palisades NY veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinarian community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. 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 program has an outstanding reputation within the Palisades NY veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify 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, you probably will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Request from the Palisades NY programs you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already discussed location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Palisades NY home, you need to make sure that the commuting 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. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes could be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you find out if the veterinary schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Palisades NY. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family issues. You may find that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Palisades NY?

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

Palisades, New York

Palisades, formerly known as Sneden's Landing, (pronounced SNEE-dens) is a hamlet in the Town of Orangetown in Rockland County, New York, United States, located north of Rockleigh and Alpine, New Jersey; east of Tappan; south of Sparkill; and west of the Hudson River.

The hamlet has no mayor, nor any official legislative bodies. It does, however, have its own library, and post office with the zip code 10964 and served by the 359 exchange in Area Code 845. It is almost entirely residential with the exception of a small industrial area section on the Tappan border. The area commonly referred to as Snedens Landing is located within the eastern portion of Palisades between U.S. Route 9W and the Hudson River.

The hamlet has a registered historic district known as the Closter Road - Oak Tree Road Historic District. The district comprises the area from the north side of Closter Road and south side of Oak Tree Road approximately 1/2 mile west of US Route 9W in Palisades. (List of Registered Historic Places in Rockland County, New York)

Enroll in the Right Vet Tech Program near Palisades NY

Palisades NY vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the ideal vet tech college is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into vet tech programs need to make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, 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 applies to vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Palisades NY.