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How to Choose a Vet Tech Program near Ithaca New York

Ithaca NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Ithaca NY might initially seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will deliver the necessary training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about assessing and comparing colleges so that you can make the best selection? Many potential students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are near their homes. When they have found some local colleges, they find out which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although cost and location are important considerations when assessing vet technician programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as internship programs and accreditation should be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing 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 different roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Ithaca NY

cat with cone after surgery in Ithaca NY Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you wish to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the main factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What techs and assistants share in common is that they all work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many functions that they can carry out within the Ithaca NY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose conditions, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work exclusive of the conventional vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in almost all cases will have completed a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by finishing 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 completion of their duties. Usually they are not involved with more complex tasks, such as assisting with surgeries. A few of their usual functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more extensive training compared with assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their fundamental job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or providing medication. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary 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 usually takes four years. Therefore the only real distinction between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Some may acquire certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Ithaca NY laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Ithaca

student attending online vet tech school in Ithaca NY An option that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is accessible. The syllabus is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can usually be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Ithaca NY veterinary clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, for instance for traveling and study supplies, may be lower compared to more standard classroom courses. Just make 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 clinical training, everything is furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online vet tech program may be the right option for you.

Things to Ask Ithaca NY Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Ithaca NY vet tech schools By now you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Ithaca NY area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many prospective students start by focusing on location and tuition expense. But we have already touched on other essential qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And of course you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are covered in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the vet tech college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As previously mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through an extensive screening process that verifies you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not offered for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited college is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Ithaca NY area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you select should have an exceptional reputation within the vet field. You can start your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on internet school ranking 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 violations concerning your specific schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Ithaca NY veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school selections. They might even suggest one or more programs not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to obtain practical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Find out if the colleges you are looking at have internship programs established with Ithaca NY veterinarians, vet practices or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require practical training and a large number provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the clinical training, but an internship may also help establish connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for a position after graduation.

Is Job Placement Provided? Getting a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are considering. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that a number of students were unhappy 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 signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Ithaca NY vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate might mean that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Ithaca NY schools you are researching what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also want to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the Campus Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to commute to your vet tech classes from your Ithaca NY home, you have to confirm that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located in or close by a large city. In addition, if you do decide to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online 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 ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are considering offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or in the evenings near Ithaca NY. Others may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are available prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family responsibilities. You might discover that an online school is the best solution to fit your vet training into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Ithaca NY?

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

Ithaca, New York

Ithaca /ˈɪθəkə/ is a city in the Finger Lakes region of New York. It is the seat of Tompkins County, as well as the largest community in the Ithaca–Tompkins County metropolitan area. This area contains the municipalities of the Town of Ithaca, the village of Cayuga Heights, and other towns and villages in Tompkins County. The city of Ithaca is located on the southern shore of Cayuga Lake, in Central New York. It is named for the Greek island of Ithaca.[3]

Ithaca is home to Cornell University, an Ivy League school of over 20,000 students, most of whom study at its local campus.[4]Ithaca College is located just south of the city in the Town of Ithaca, adding to the area's "college town" atmosphere. Nearby is Tompkins Cortland Community College (TC3).[5] These three colleges bring tens of thousands of students, who increase Ithaca's seasonal population during the school year. Some students settle in the area after graduation. The city's voters are notably more liberal than those in the remainder of Tompkins County or in upstate New York, generally voting for Democratic Party candidates.

Indigenous people occupied this area for thousands of years. At the time of European contact, this area was controlled by the Cayuga Indians, one of the powerful Five Nations of the Haudenosaunee or Iroquois League. Jesuit missionaries from New France (Quebec) are said to have had a mission to the Cayuga as early as 1657.[8]

Enroll in the Best Vet Tech College near Ithaca NY

Ithaca NY vet tech holding dog Picking the right veterinary technician program is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career providing care and treatment for animals. Potential students looking into vet tech schools must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually take on administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices so that you can make your final choice. And by choosing the right college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Ithaca NY.