Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Hicksville NY

How to Find the Right Vet Tech School near Hicksville New York

Hicksville NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong dream of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Hicksville NY may at first feel like a challenging undertaking. After all, you need to search for and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle assessing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the best choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their homes. Once they have identified some local colleges, they determine which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although cost and location are important factors when evaluating veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll explore the various responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Job of a Vet Tech in Hicksville NY

cat with cone after surgery in Hicksville NY One of the first decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialty appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are a number of functions that they can perform within the Hicksville NY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or perform surgeries. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have completed a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a practice, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet techs in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their usual duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training compared with assistants and normally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex functions, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or emergency care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Hicksville NY laboratories or research facilities as well.

Online Veterinary Technician Schools Offered in Hicksville

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

Things to Ask Hicksville NY Veterinary Technician Programs

Questions to ask Hicksville NY vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinarian credential that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Hicksville NY area as well as across the Country, you should ask some qualifying questions in order to narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, for example accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you need to enroll in a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously 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 verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Hicksville NY area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job assistance network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school rating 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 infractions relating to your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Hicksville NY vet clinics that you may want to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They might even suggest some colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective way to get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the schools you are looking at have internship programs established with Hicksville NY veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the practical training, but an internship can also help develop connections in the local veterinary community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate might mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, check that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may indicate that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Hicksville NY veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might signify that the training is not well 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 receive little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Hicksville NY colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Of course, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Hicksville NY home, you have to make sure that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located near or in a larger city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for state and community colleges. Of course attending online classes could be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the vet colleges you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible 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 Hicksville NY. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Confirm that the class times you need are available before enrolling. Also, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss due to sickness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online program is the ideal solution to fit your veterinary training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Hicksville NY?

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

Hicksville, New York

Hicksville is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) within the town of Oyster Bay in Nassau County, New York, United States, on Long Island. The population of the CDP was 41,547 at the 2010 census.

Valentine Hicks, son-in-law of abolitionist and Quaker preacher Elias Hicks, and eventual president of the Long Island Rail Road, bought land in the village in 1834 and turned it into a station stop on the LIRR in 1837. The station became a depot for produce, particularly cucumbers for a Heinz Company plant. After a blight destroyed the cucumber crops, the farmers grew potatoes. It turned into a bustling New York City suburb in the building boom following World War II.[1][2]

The Rubber Company of America (RUCO) built a manufacturing site in 1945. RUCO Polymer Corp. (Hooker Chemical Company) manufactured plastics, latex, and esters. Occidental Chemical Corporation (OCC) owned and operated this site from 1966 to 1982. The site was purchased by Sybron Corporation, then in 2000, the Bayer Corporation (Bayer MaterialScience) purchased the Hooker Ruco facility and in 2002 decided to close the facility.[4] The site was used for the production of polyester from 1982 until 2002.[5]

Enroll in the Ideal Veterinary Technician College near Hicksville NY

Hicksville NY vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Students considering vet tech schools must make their decision based on several key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically handle administrative tasks and assist 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 colleges 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 choice. And by picking the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a vet tech in Hicksville NY.