Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Garden City NY

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Garden City New York

Garden City NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician school near Garden City NY may initially feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a program that will provide the appropriate training so that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle reviewing and comparing programs so that you can make the ideal choice? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. Once they have identified some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important factors when evaluating vet technician programs, they are by no means the only important ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are looking at before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Garden City NY

cat with cone after surgery in Garden City NY One of the initial 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 predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are many jobs that they can perform within the Garden City NY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work exclusive of the typical vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing 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 performance of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex undertakings, for example assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training compared to assistants and typically acquire a 2 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 general job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are included in more involved functions, for example assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally requires four years. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Garden City

student attending online vet tech school in Garden City NY An option that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are provided over the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using multiple venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Garden City NY veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, for instance for commuting and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just be sure that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Garden City NY Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Garden City NY vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinarian degree that you wish to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Garden City NY area as well as across the USA, you must ask some relevant questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other important qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the vet tech program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, 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 rigorous review process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited program is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Garden City NY area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you select must have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the New York school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Garden City NY veterinary clinics that you may want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to get clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs set up with Garden City NY veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.

Is Job Placement Offered? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school may be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are considering. A low rate may signify that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the college has an excellent reputation within the Garden City NY vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Garden City NY schools you are looking at what their classroom teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. 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 College Located? Okay, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the topic. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Garden City NY home, you must confirm 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 near or in a large city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes may be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you determine if the veterinary programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Garden City NY. Others might only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, illness or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online college is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Garden City NY?

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

Garden City, New York

Garden City is an incorporated village in Nassau County, New York, United States, in the town of Hempstead. It was founded by multi-millionaire Alexander Turney Stewart in 1869, and is on Long Island, to the east of New York City, 18.5 miles (29.8 km) from midtown Manhattan. The village is located mostly in the Town of Hempstead with a small portion in the Town of North Hempstead.[2]

The Garden City name is applied to several other unincorporated, nearby jurisdictions, as well. In the region, hamlets such as Garden City South, Garden City Park, and East Garden City are located next to the incorporated village of Garden City, but are not themselves part of it. Roosevelt Field, the shopping center and raceway built on the former airfield from which Charles Lindbergh took off on his landmark 1927 transatlantic flight in the Spirit of St. Louis, is located in East Garden City. Adelphi University's main campus is in Garden City.

Parenthetically, the name "Garden City" pre-dates that of the garden city movement, which was established some years later near the end of the nineteenth century.[5] The central attraction of the new community was the Garden City Hotel, designed by the acclaimed firm of McKim, Mead & White. Although the original structure, as well as that which replaced it at the end of the 19th century, were torn down years ago after a fire, a rebuilt hotel still stands on the original grounds, as do many nearby Victorian homes. Access to Garden City was provided by the Central Railroad of Long Island, another Stewart project which he undertook at the same time. The railroad's Hempstead Branch opened in 1873.

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician School near Garden City NY

Garden City NY vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a rewarding career providing treatment and care for animals. Students considering vet tech programs must make their determination based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This applies to online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final selection. And by picking the ideal college, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Garden City NY.