Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Locust Valley NY

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Locust Valley New York

Locust Valley NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your lifelong dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Locust Valley NY might initially feel like a daunting task. After all, you need to locate and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training to ensure that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle evaluating and comparing programs so that you can make the proper selection? Many aspiring students start their due diligence process by looking for campuses that are near their homes. Once they have found some area schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when evaluating vet technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs should be evaluated also. The main idea is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician programs you are looking at before you make a final selection. We have furnished several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll discuss the different duties of veterinary technicians and the training options offered.

The Role of a Vet Tech in Locust Valley NY

cat with cone after surgery in Locust Valley NY One of the initial decisions that you will need to make is whether you wish to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision might be based on the amount of time and money that you have to commit to your education, but the main determiner will probably be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate supervision of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many tasks that they can carry out within the Locust Valley NY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose health issues, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the standard vet practice, such as for animal shelters, zoos or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and training prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in the majority of instances will have gone through a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, 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 techs in the completion of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more involved tasks, for instance assisting with surgeries. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during exams.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training compared to assistants and normally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the vet counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more complicated duties, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states presently require veterinary techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially carry out the same job functions. They are required to obtain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years to complete. Therefore the main difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary techs and technologists may 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 Locust Valley NY labs or research facilities also.

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Locust Valley

student attending online vet tech school in Locust Valley NY An approach that may 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 program. Since the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The course of study is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many veterinary tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Locust Valley NY veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary expenditures, such as for traveling and study materials, may be cheaper compared to more conventional classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting organization. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is included for a comprehensive education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech school may be the ideal option for you.

What to Ask Locust Valley NY Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Locust Valley NY vet tech schools At this point you probably have determined which veterinarian credential that you want to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, technical and vocational schools in the Locust Valley NY area as well as across the USA, you should ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we pointed out in our opening, many potential students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already mentioned other significant qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to choose a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the list of questions that you should ask the vet tech schools that you are reviewing.

Is the Veterinary Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the veterinary technician college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier discussed, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that confirms you will obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are applying for a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not offered for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Locust Valley NY area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose should have an excellent reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on internet school rating websites and checking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the New York school licensing department if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your targeted schools. As a final pointer, phone some Locust Valley NY veterinary clinics that you might want to work for after you get your training. Find out what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend some colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective approach to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a professional environment. Ask if the colleges you are considering have internship programs arranged with Locust Valley NY veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Most veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable relative to the practical training, but an internship can also help build connections in the local vet community and aid in the search for a position after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech program may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A low rate might indicate that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the course of study or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the schools have a job assistance program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Locust Valley NY veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate may indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is ineffective at placing students.

How Big are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you most likely will get little or no individualized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Locust Valley NY colleges you are considering what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between instructors and students. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the instructors and find out what their qualifications 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 consider on the subject. If you are going to commute to your veterinary technician classes from your Locust Valley NY home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the campus is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do decide to enroll in a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition charges particularly for state and community colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes might be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and reduce the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinary colleges you are looking at offer class times flexible enough to fit your schedule. For instance, a number of students continue to work full time and can only go to classes on the weekends or at night near Locust Valley NY. Some may only be able to go to class in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of illness, work or family emergencies. You might discover that an online college is the best way to fit your vet education into your active life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Locust Valley NY?

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

Locust Valley, New York

Locust Valley is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located in Nassau County, New York. Locust Valley is an unincorporated area of the Town of Oyster Bay. As of the United States 2010 Census, the CDP population was 3,406. The area is commonly identified with its W.A.S.P and "White Shoe" culture surrounding a group of polo and golf clubs, primarily the secretive Piping Rock Club, as well as the equally prestigious Creek Club, in the neighboring incorporated villages of Matinecock and Lattingtown, respectively. The town is also known for Locust Valley lockjaw.

The rolling hills of the North Shore of Long Island were laid down as terminal moraines by the receding glaciers of the last ice age roughly 10,000 years ago. The Algonquian tribe that settled the area, spanning from Flushing to Setauket, called the area "hilly ground" or Matinecock and as a result the Algonquian Indians who settled there became known as the Matinecock Indians.[2]

In 1667, Captain John Underhill negotiated with the Matinecock Indians to purchase land for a settlement that he and his fellow colonists would call Buckram.[3] The town name lasted for nearly 200 years, until in 1856 the name was changed to Locust Valley based on the number of locust trees located in the area.[3]

Pick the Ideal Vet Tech School near Locust Valley NY

Locust Valley NY vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Future students looking into veterinary technician programs need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and assist the veterinarian with the animals when needed. As we have covered, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to online vet tech colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Locust Valley NY.