Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Bedford Hills NY

How to Select a Veterinary Technician School near Bedford Hills New York

Bedford Hills NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech college near Bedford Hills NY may at first seem like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a college that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the proper selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are near their residences. After they have located some local colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when comparing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into also. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician schools you are looking at before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Bedford Hills NY

cat with cone after surgery in Bedford Hills NY Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may 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 specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous tasks that they can carry out within the Bedford Hills NY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of cases will have undergone a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by completing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not involved with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians get more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Bedford Hills NY laboratories or research facilities also.

Vet Tech Online Schools Offered in Bedford Hills

student attending online vet tech school in Bedford Hills NY An option that may be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered by means of the internet, students can study on their own timetable 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 typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Bedford Hills NY veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just confirm that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

What to Ask Bedford Hills NY Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Bedford Hills NY vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinary degree that you want to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Bedford Hills NY area as well as across the United States, you must ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, which include internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a college that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. 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 gone through a thorough review process that confirms you will get a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for a number of Bedford Hills NY area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or vocational school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking 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 concerning your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Bedford Hills NY veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you receive your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Bedford Hills NY veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A lower rate could signify that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, verify that the schools have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Bedford Hills NY veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not well thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Bedford Hills NY schools you are researching what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we previously talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Bedford Hills NY home, you need to confirm that the commuting time fits into 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 school is located in or near a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you find out if the veterinary schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Bedford Hills NY. Others might only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Bedford Hills NY?

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

Bedford Hills, New York

Bedford Hills is a hamlet in the Town of Bedford, Westchester County, New York, United States. The population was 3,001 at the 2010 census, which lists the community as a census-designated place.[3] The Bedford Hills Correctional Facility for Women is located in the hamlet.

When the railroad was built in 1847, Bedford Hills was known as Bedford Station. Bedford Hills extends from a business center at the railroad station to farms and estates, eastward along Harris, Babbitt and Bedford Center Roads and south along the Route 117 business corridor up to Mt. Kisco. Bedford Hills is the seat of government of the Town of Bedford. The Town House, built in 1927, and Town buildings containing the Police Department and Town offices are located in Bedford Hills.[citation needed]

Bedford Hills is the site of Stepping Stones, the historic home of Alcoholics Anonymous co-founder Bill W. and his wife Lois Burnham Wilson, founder of Al-Anon/Alateen. The home, located at 62 Oak Road in Katonah, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and has become a tour destination for members of 12-Step organizations.[citation needed]

Select the Best Veterinary Technician School near Bedford Hills NY

Bedford Hills NY vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech program is a crucial first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into veterinary technician schools need to make their decision based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and assist the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for 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 options so that you can make your final selection. And by choosing the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Bedford Hills NY.