Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools East Nassau NY

How to Choose a Vet Tech Program near East Nassau New York

East Nassau NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near East Nassau NY might at first feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you have to find and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you approach reviewing and comparing colleges so that you can make the right choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for schools that are close to their residences. Once they have found some area schools, they find out which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when assessing veterinary technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation should be evaluated as well. The main idea is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate decision. We have provided several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the varied duties of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in East Nassau NY

cat with cone after surgery in East Nassau NY One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the principal determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And even though there are many functions that they can perform within the East Nassau NY veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or carry out surgeries. In those areas they can only provide support to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the typical vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice 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 performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared with assistants and generally acquire 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 stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially perform the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in East Nassau

student attending online vet tech school in East Nassau NY An option that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The syllabus is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local East Nassau NY veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary costs, such as for traveling and study supplies, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online classes and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician school may be the perfect choice for you.

Questions to Ask East Nassau NY Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask East Nassau NY vet tech schools At this point you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to obtain, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the East Nassau 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 discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other important qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And naturally you want to choose a school that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary School 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 previously discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that verifies you will receive a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial assistance, since many programs are not available for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a prerequisite for employment for many East Nassau NY area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinarian college or trade school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are interested in for references 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 complaints or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some East Nassau NY veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with East Nassau NY veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. Almost all veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local vet community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A lower rate may suggest that the instructors were unqualified to teach the syllabus or that some students were unhappy with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the program has an excellent reputation within the East Nassau NY vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the East Nassau NY colleges you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Ask for evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your East Nassau NY home, you must make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, 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 fees especially for state and community colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near East Nassau NY. Others may only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you require are available prior to enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of sickness, work or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near East Nassau NY?

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

Nassau County, New York

Nassau County (/ˈnæsɔː/ or /ˈnæsaʊ/) is a county in the U.S. state of New York. At the 2010 census, the county's population was 1,400,000 estimated to have increased to 1,400,514 in 2017.[1] The county seat is Garden City but located within the boundaries of the Mineola 11501 ZIP code, and the largest village is Hempstead.[2][3][4]

Nassau County is situated in western Long Island, bordering New York City's boroughs of Queens and Brooklyn to the west, and Suffolk County to the east. It is the most densely populated and second-most populous county in New York state outside of New York City, with which it maintains extensive rail and highway connectivity, and is considered one of the central counties within the New York metropolitan area. Nassau County contains two cities, three towns, 64 incorporated villages, and more than 60 unincorporated hamlets. Nassau County has a designated police department,[5]fire commission,[6] and elected executive and legislative bodies.[7]

In 2012, Forbes magazine, in an article based on the American Community Survey, reported Nassau County as the most expensive county and one of the highest income counties in the United States, the most affluent in the state of New York, and four of the nation's top ten towns by median income are located in the county.[8] Nassau County high school students often feature prominently as winners of the Intel International Science and Engineering Fair and similar STEM-based academic awards.[9][10]

Select the Right Vet Tech Program near East Nassau NY

East Nassau NY vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal veterinary technician college is an important first step to beginning a rewarding career providing treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students considering vet tech colleges need to make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you pick 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 assessing schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final selection. And by selecting the ideal school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in East Nassau NY.