Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Holtsville NY

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician Program near Holtsville New York

Holtsville NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Holtsville NY might at first seem like a daunting task. After all, you have to search for and enroll in a program 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 comparing schools so that you can make the ideal choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their homes. After they have found some area schools, they ascertain which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important concerns when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only important ones when making your assessments. Factors such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the different responsibilities of veterinary technicians and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Holtsville NY

cat with cone after surgery in Holtsville NY One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And while there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Holtsville NY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the typical vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have undergone a formal training program, either as an apprentice or intern in a vet clinic or hospital, or by graduating from a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more involved undertakings, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared to assistants and typically obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary techs pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and for the most part carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more work options, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.

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

Online Veterinary Technician Programs Offered in Holtsville

student attending online vet tech school in Holtsville NY An option that may make sense for those with a busy schedule or who are working full time while going to veterinarian college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The curriculum is taught using multiple methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Holtsville NY veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for travel and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the right choice for you.

Questions to Ask Holtsville NY Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Holtsville NY vet tech schools By now you should have selected which veterinarian degree that you would like to attain, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinarian community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Holtsville NY area as well as across the United States, you should ask some relevant questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already mentioned other essential qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And of course you need to select a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are looking at.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, one of the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited schools. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Holtsville NY area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you enroll in must have an outstanding reputation within the vet community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the colleges you are looking at for endorsements from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions 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 regarding your specific schools. As a final suggestion, phone some Holtsville NY veterinarians that you might want to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Holtsville NY veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable relative to the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Provided? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are evaluating. A lower rate could suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Holtsville NY veterinarian community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could mean 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 larger in size, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Holtsville NY schools you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a few classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and instructors. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Holtsville NY home, you must confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for community and state colleges. Of course attending classes online might be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are evaluating offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Holtsville NY. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family responsibilities. You may find that an online college is the ideal way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Holtsville NY?

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

Koehler Instrument Company, Inc.

Koehler Instrument, or Koehler, is a US company which provides petroleum and petrochemical testing equipment and technical support services to testing laboratories worldwide. The company’s corporate headquarters is in Holtsville, NY and the manufacturing headquarters is in Bohemia, NY.

Koehler Instrument Company offers a full line of instruments for testing biofuels, fuels, lubes, greases as well as an extensive selection of tribology or wear testing instruments. All Koehler products conform to the latest ASTM, ISO, IP and related international specifications.

Other organizations that Koehler holds membership with include the Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers [1] and the American Institute of Chemical Engineers.[2] Koehler is also an active member of the National Association of Lubricating Grease Manufacturers, Inc. (NLGI), with a representative on the Board of Directors.[3]

Enroll in the Ideal Veterinary Technician School near Holtsville NY

Holtsville NY vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician program is a critical first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Future students considering veterinary technician colleges must make their selection based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you enroll in 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 provided in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the ideal school, you can reach your goal of becoming a vet tech in Holtsville NY.