Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Franklin Square NY

How to Enroll In a Vet Tech School near Franklin Square New York

Franklin Square NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Franklin Square NY may initially feel like a challenging task. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will furnish the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you approach analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are close to their residences. Once they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are significant concerns when evaluating vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation should be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet technician programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Franklin Square NY

cat with cone after surgery in Franklin Square NY Among the initial decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And while there are a number of tasks that they can perform within the Franklin Square NY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all 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 veterinarians and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complicated activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary counterparts of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are involved in more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medicine. All states currently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary technicians and essentially carry out the same work functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career options, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Franklin Square NY laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Franklin Square

student attending online vet tech school in Franklin Square NY An option that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Franklin Square NY veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, for instance for travel and study materials, may be more affordable compared to more standard classroom programs. Just be sure that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician school may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Franklin Square NY Veterinary Technician Colleges

Questions to ask Franklin Square NY vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Franklin Square NY area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed 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 essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for many Franklin Square NY area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary field. You can start your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with internet school ranking websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies 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 suggestion, contact some Franklin Square NY vet clinics that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even recommend one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best way to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical setting. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Franklin Square NY veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help develop associations in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a job after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, ask what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the program has an excellent reputation within the Franklin Square NY veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you may receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Franklin Square NY schools you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we already covered location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are going to drive to your vet tech classes from your Franklin Square NY home, you must make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For example, 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 near a large city. Also, if you do opt to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s important that you ascertain if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Franklin Square NY. Others may only be able to attend class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may discover that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Franklin Square NY?

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

Franklin Square, New York

Franklin Square is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) in Nassau County, New York, United States. The hamlet is an unincorporated area in the Town of Hempstead. The population was 29,320 at the 2010 census.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 2.9 square miles (7.5 km2), all land. Franklin Square is bordered on the north by Stewart Manor, northeast by Garden City and Garden City South, southwest by North Valley Stream, east by West Hempstead, and west by Elmont.[2]

As of the 2010 census the population was 29,320. The makeup of the population was 75.1% Non-Hispanic White, 3.2% African American, 0.11% Native American, 7.2% Asian, 0.01% Pacific Islander, 1.75% from other races, and 2% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 13.3% of the population.[3]

Pick the Right Vet Tech Program near Franklin Square NY

Franklin Square NY vet tech holding dog Enrolling in the right vet tech school is an important first step to starting a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech schools must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Franklin Square NY.