How to Find the Right Vet Tech School near Keene Valley New York
Fulfilling your long term goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Keene Valley NY might at first feel like an overwhelming task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a college that will provide the necessary training so that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the best choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by looking for schools that are close to their homes. After they have identified some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are important considerations when comparing vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be considered also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are reviewing before you make a final choice. We have presented several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll talk about the different responsibilities of vet techs and the training options offered.
The Role of a Vet Tech in Keene Valley NY
Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a veterinary technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your training, but the main determiner will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they both work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can perform within the Keene Valley NY veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or carry out surgical procedures. 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 job functions and training requirements for each specialty.
- Vet Assistants in most instances will have gone through a structured 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 vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
- Vet Technicians get more advanced training compared to assistants and usually earn a 2 year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinary equivalent of medical nurses, since their basic job duty is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are included in more complicated tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medication. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
- Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which generally takes four years. So the only real distinction 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 potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet technicians and technologists can specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Keene Valley NY laboratories or research facilities as well.
Vet Tech Online Programs Offered in Keene Valley
An alternative that might be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are made available via the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The educational program is taught using multiple methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Keene Valley NY veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances decrease the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenses, for example for commuting and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more traditional classroom courses. Just confirm that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the clinical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the right option for you.
Things to Ask Keene Valley NY Veterinary Technician Programs
At this point you probably have decided on which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, 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 Keene Valley NY area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some qualifying questions in order to fine tune your list of alternatives. As we discussed in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other important qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a program that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are reviewed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are reviewing.
Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As previously discussed, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a thorough screening process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is necessary if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited programs. Last, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a precondition for employment for many Keene Valley NY area veterinary clinics and hospitals.
What is the School’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you select must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other suggestions include looking on online school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the New York school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, call some Keene Valley NY vet clinics that you might want to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They may even suggest some colleges 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 setting. Find out if the programs you are considering have internship programs set up with Keene Valley NY veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs require practical training and many furnish it through internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help develop relationships in the local veterinarian community and assist in the search for employment after graduation.
Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a veterinary technician college can be challenging without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are considering. A lower rate may indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that a number of students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might signify that the school has an exceptional reputation within the Keene Valley NY vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could mean that the training is not highly thought of by employers or that the job assistance program is a failure at placing students.
How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Keene Valley NY colleges you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and determine what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.
Where is the Campus Located? Of course, we already talked about location, but there are a few more points to make on the topic. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Keene Valley NY home, you have to make certain that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do opt to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for state and community colleges. Of course 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 imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian programs you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Keene Valley NY. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you need are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, illness or family issues. You may find that an online program is the ideal way to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.
Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Keene Valley NY?
If you have decided to attend a Veterinary Technician Program in the Keene Valley New York area, then you may find the following information about the location of your school campus interesting and informing.
Keene, New York
The town is part of the Adirondack Park, and includes 15 of the 46 High Peaks, including Mount Marcy, New York's highest mountain, and the rest of the Great Range. It also includes the Ausable Lakes, the source of the Ausable River. Trailheads for many of the High Peaks are located within the town, along with the Johns Brook Lodge of the Adirondack Mountain Club.
The earliest settlement in the present village of Keene Center was in 1787.[4]:20 The town of Keene was created from splitting parts of the towns of Jay and Elizabethtown on March 19, 1808. This originally included current North Elba, but that was split in 1849 from the original Keene. The area was made of a mountainous and rocky surface, with a low population due to the unstable soil in the region. A nearby highway was extended to Keene Center via the towns of Lewis and Jay, but it was deemed unusable due to the structure of the area. The town of Keene organized the first school district in the Adirondacks, which held its first recorded trustee meeting in 1813.[4]:32
The area had been a stronghold with the lumber and iron industries. However, exporting items made by these industries was difficult due to lack of transportation. By around 1820 sawmills, forges and gristmills were being built. The riverbed region of Keene sprouted the first community, and Keene Flats become another by 1840. In 1882, when the Adirondack Park was created as a state protected area, a privately tolled and maintained road to lower Ausable Lake was constructed.[5][6]
Enroll in the Ideal Vet Tech College near Keene Valley NY
Choosing the right veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering treatment and care for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician schools must make their selection based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you select 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 evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your options so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Keene Valley NY.
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