Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Island Park NY

How to Select a Vet Tech Program near Island Park New York

Island Park NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong goal of working with and helping pets by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Island Park NY could at first feel like a daunting undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the right choice? Many potential students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their residences. When they have located some area colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant considerations when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. 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 vet technician schools you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll talk about the varied responsibilities of vet techs and the training options available.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Island Park NY

cat with cone after surgery in Island Park NY One of the first decisions that you will need to make is if you wish to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your training, but the principal factor will most likely be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous functions that they can perform within the Island Park NY veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. 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 responsibilities and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases 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 vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the performance of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and normally obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated tasks, such as assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary technicians and basically carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. Some may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Island Park NY laboratories or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Island Park

student attending online vet tech school in Island Park NY An option that might be a solution for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while going to veterinary college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using various methods, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Island Park NY veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for travel and study supplies, may be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just be sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech program may be the ideal option for you.

Questions to Ask Island Park NY Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Island Park NY vet tech schools By now you probably have determined which veterinarian degree that you would like to earn, and if you prefer to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinary community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Island Park NY area as well as across the United States, you should ask some important questions in order to fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our introduction, many prospective students start by concentrating on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, such as accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a school that offers the specialty and degree that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are covered in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician programs that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s essential that you confirm that the veterinary technician school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously discussed, among 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 ensures you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is often a requirement for employment for many Island Park NY area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The veterinary trade school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the New York school licensing authority if there have been any complaints or infractions concerning your targeted schools. As a final tip, call some Island Park NY veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even recommend some programs not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The best approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Island Park NY veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Assistance Offered? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate may suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that a number of students were disappointed 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 indicate that the college has an exceptional reputation within the Island Park NY veterinarian community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger in size, you probably will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Island Park NY schools you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to participate in some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between teachers and students. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Island Park NY home, you need to make sure that the driving 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 campus is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges especially for state and community colleges. Of course attending classes online may be an option that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s imperative that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Island Park NY. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss as a result of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online program is the best solution to fit your vet education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Island Park NY?

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

Oak Beach Inn

The Oak Beach Inn, commonly referred to by the abbreviation OBI, was a Long Island nightclub located in Oak Beach, on Jones Beach Island near Captree State Park in the Town of Babylon, Suffolk County, New York.

In 1969, Robert Matherson bought what was then a waterfront barrier island restaurant and converted it into an enormously popular (and controversial) nightclub: the "Oak Beach Inn", located in Oak Beach on Jones Beach Island, NY, was the original, and later just referred to as "The OBI". He later opened three more OBI nightclubs and named them according to their geographic location. The OBI North was in Smithtown, New York, the 'OBI East' near the Shinnecock Canal en route to The Hamptons, and the OBI West locations in Island Park, New York (which has 2 locations over time; first at 3999 Long Beach Road, and later, briefly, at 50 Broadway). All four clubs were located on Long Island and were wildly successful for many years, bringing people in from all over Long Island, New York City, Westchester, southern Connecticut and New Jersey and hosting acts such as Twisted Sister and The Good Rats.[1][self-published source] In 1979, Matherson sued the town to lease him more land for additional parking which the town granted. However two years later, new officials disagreed which caused Matherson to sue again and when the court favored with Matherson, the town granted him $3 million and the nine acres.[2] In 1993, an unhappy Matherson actually started a "Move Out of New York Before It's Too Late" campaign complete with a hearse, banners and TV ads.[3] A 1993 New York Times article provided more details about his campaign including that the New York State Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control raided the club one year earlier in 1992.[4] One of the OBI West locations burned down after only a couple of years of packing in thousands on the weekends. Arson involving organized crime figures referred to in the movie Goodfellas was alleged but never substantiated.

Over the years, the OBI was involved in many disputes with the local community over issues such as noise, parking and traffic.[5] Finally, in 1999, Matherson sold the property to developer Ross Cassata, who planned to build condominiums, and moved to Key West, Florida to open a new club of the same name.[6] When it closed, the inn's two-ton statues of whales and dolphins, which were commonly touched by clubgoers, were moved to Danfords on the Sound in Long Island.[7] However, Cassata then sold the nine acres to Suffolk County for $7.95 million and the original property was torn down in 2003 and was replaced with a town-operated park, with later added plans of adding a bed and breakfast, upscale restaurant, boardwalk, water-sport area and boat ramp.[3] The park now hosts activities such as car racing and has caused controversy in itself.[8] At the time of demolition, the Suffolk County Legislator commented that the park agreement avoided "an enormous tax increase in Babylon, which would have had to pay a court judgment of as much as $20 million or watch its coastline be forever scarred by high-rise development" and the money came from the county's greenway program.[2]

Select the Best Veterinary Technician Program near Island Park NY

Island Park NY vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to starting a gratifying career providing treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into vet tech schools must make their selection based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics 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 very important that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. 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 alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the best school, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Island Park NY.