Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Lake George NY

How to Find the Right Vet Tech Program near Lake George New York

Lake George NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech school near Lake George NY could at first seem like an overwhelming undertaking. After all, you need to find and enroll in a program that will provide the proper training to ensure that you can succeed as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting colleges so that you can make the proper choice? Many future students begin their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are near their residences. When they have located some nearby colleges, they ascertain which ones have the most affordable tuition and focus on those. Although expense and location are significant concerns when assessing veterinary technician programs, they are by no means the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are looking at before you make a final decision. We have furnished several in this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives offered.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Lake George NY

cat with cone after surgery in Lake George NY Among the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the primary factor will undoubtedly be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they each work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of tasks that they can carry out within the Lake George NY veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or carry out surgical procedures. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the standard vet practice, such as for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training requirements for each specialty.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or trade school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Usually they are not associated with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training compared with assistants and generally earn a two year Associate Degree, preferably 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 differ from vet assistants is that they are involved in more complex tasks, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally takes four years. Therefore the main 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 opportunities, increased salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. Many may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Lake George NY labs or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Lake George

student attending online vet tech school in Lake George NY An option that may make sense for those with a busy lifestyle or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Because the classes are provided through the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The educational program is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of veterinary technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Lake George NY veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, such as for traveling and study materials, can be lower compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make certain that the online school that you select is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more self-reliant manner, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Lake George NY Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Lake George NY vet tech schools By now you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you want to earn, and if you want to study online or attend a program on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Lake George NY area and 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 previously mentioned other essential qualifiers, such as internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech schools that you are looking at.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you make sure that the veterinary technician college you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier stated, 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 rigorous screening process that verifies you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a requirement for employment for a number of Lake George NY area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the School’s Reputation? The vet vocational school or college and program you enroll in must have an excellent reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other tips include checking with online school rating websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the New York school licensing department if there have been any complaints or violations involving your specific schools. As a final tip, phone some Lake George NY veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think of your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Lake George NY veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the practical training, but an internship can also help establish associations in the local vet community and assist in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate could mean that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might mean that the program has an exceptional reputation within the Lake George NY vet community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly 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 may get little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Lake George NY colleges you are looking at what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to attend a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for evaluations from students concerning 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 School Located? Yes, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your vet tech classes from your Lake George NY home, you need to make sure that the commuting time is compatible with 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, particularly if the college is located in or close by a larger city. In addition, if you do opt to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition fees particularly for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an option that will give you more flexibility and reduce the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s imperative that you ascertain if the veterinarian schools you are exploring offer class times flexible enough to accommodate your schedule. For instance, many students continue working full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Lake George NY. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you might miss because of work, sickness or family emergencies. You might find that an online school is the ideal way to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Lake George NY?

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

Lake George, New York

Lake George is a town in Warren County, New York, United States. The population was 3,578 at the 2000 census.[2] The town is named after the lake, Lake George. Within the town is a village also named Lake George. The town is part of the Glens Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area.[4]

The first European to visit the lake was Father Isaac Jogues in August 1642.[5] He was later captured by Mohawks, escaped, and returned home to France. In 1646, he was sent on a political mission to the Iroquois to propose a treaty of peace, and at that point named the lake "Lac du Saint Sacrement" (Lake of the Blessed Sacrament).[5]

Lake George was also the site of Fort William Henry, named in honor of Prince William Henry, grandson of King George II, by General Johnson. The fort, its surrender to the Marquis de Montcalm after a six-day siege by the French and Indians, and the following massacre all in 1757 were used by James Fenimore Cooper as the background for his famous novel The Last of the Mohicans. The fort was reconstructed and opened to the public as a museum in 1953.[5]

Enroll in the Right Veterinary Technician School near Lake George NY

Lake George NY vet tech holding dog Selecting the ideal veterinary technician school is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Potential students looking into vet tech schools must make their determination based on several key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s very important that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions provided 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 college, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Lake George NY.