Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Schenectady NY

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Schenectady New York

Schenectady NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Schenectady NY might at first feel like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you must locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their homes. When they have located some local colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs should be considered also. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different duties of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Job of a Veterinary Technician in Schenectady NY

cat with cone after surgery in Schenectady NY One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will undoubtedly be which specialization interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the direct direction of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Schenectady NY veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a community college or trade 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 involved with more involved undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training compared with assistants and normally acquire a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. So the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Schenectady

student attending online vet tech school in Schenectady NY An alternative that may be a solution for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided via the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can usually be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Schenectady NY veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, for instance for traveling and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses 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 vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

Things to Ask Schenectady NY Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Schenectady NY vet tech schools By now you should have determined which veterinary degree that you would like to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Schenectady NY area and across the USA, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you verify that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is frequently a requirement for employment for a number of Schenectady NY area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the veterinary community. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the New York school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations involving your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Schenectady NY veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to obtain practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs arranged with Schenectady NY veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate might mean that the instructors were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Schenectady NY veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could indicate that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Schenectady NY programs you are looking at what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Schenectady NY home, you must 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the college is located near or in a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend 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, taking online classes might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you determine if the veterinarian colleges you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Schenectady NY. Others might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Schenectady NY?

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

Schenectady, New York

Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135. The name "Schenectady" is derived from a Mohawk word, skahnéhtati, meaning "beyond the pines".[3][4] Schenectady was founded on the south side of the Mohawk River by Dutch colonists in the 17th century, many from the Albany area. They were prohibited from the fur trade by the Albany monopoly, which kept its control after the English takeover in 1664. Residents of the new village developed farms on strip plots along the river.

Connected to the west via the Mohawk River and Erie Canal, Schenectady developed rapidly in the 19th century as part of the Mohawk Valley trade, manufacturing and transportation corridor. By 1824 more people worked in manufacturing than agriculture or trade, and the city had a cotton mill, processing cotton from the Deep South. Numerous mills in New York had such ties with the South. Through the 19th century, nationally influential companies and industries developed in Schenectady, including General Electric and American Locomotive Company (ALCO), which were powers into the mid-20th century. Schenectady was part of emerging technologies, with GE collaborating in the production of nuclear-powered submarines and, in the 21st century, working on other forms of renewable energy.

Schenectady is in eastern New York, near the confluence of the Mohawk and Hudson rivers. It is in the same metropolitan area as the state capital, Albany, which is about 15 miles (24 km) southeast.[5] In December 2014, the state announced that the city was one of three sites selected for development of off-reservation casino gambling, under terms of a 2013 state constitutional amendment. The project would redevelop an ALCO brownfield site in the city along the waterfront, with hotels, housing and a marina in addition to the casino.[6]

Select the Best Vet Tech School near Schenectady NY

Schenectady NY vet tech holding dog Selecting the right veterinary technician school is a critical first step to beginning a gratifying career providing care and treatment for pets and livestock. Students considering vet tech schools need to make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s very important that you choose 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 reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Schenectady NY.