Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Old Bethpage NY

How to Pick a Veterinary Technician Program near Old Bethpage New York

Old Bethpage NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Achieving your lifelong goal of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician college near Old Bethpage NY could initially feel like a daunting task. After all, you need to find and enroll in a school that will furnish the necessary training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you tackle analyzing and contrasting programs so that you can make the proper choice? Many aspiring students launch their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. When they have identified some area schools, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and focus on those. Although location and expense are important factors when comparing vet tech schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your comparisons. Factors such as internship programs and accreditation need to be considered as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the veterinary technician schools you are considering before you make a final selection. We have furnished several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll discuss the varied roles of vet techs and the training options available.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Old Bethpage NY

cat with cone after surgery in Old Bethpage NY Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you want to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your determination may be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the primary factor will most likely be which specialization appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they all work under the immediate guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are numerous duties that they can perform within the Old Bethpage NY veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they may only furnish assistance to a licensed vet. There are technicians and technologists that work away from the standard vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and training requirements for each position.

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 finishing a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the veterinarians and vet technicians in the completion of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex undertakings, such as assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their typical functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or handling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians go through more advanced training compared to assistants and usually obtain a 2 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 general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from veterinary assistants is that they are engaged in more involved duties, for example assisting with surgical procedures or administering medication. All states presently require vet technicians pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and basically carry out the same job functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually requires 4 years. So the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.

Vet technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or urgent care. Many may obtain certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Old Bethpage NY laboratories or research facilities as well.

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Old Bethpage

student attending online vet tech school in Old Bethpage NY An option that might make sense for those with a hectic schedule or who are working full-time while going to vet school is to enroll in an online training program. Since the classes are offered 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 many veterinary technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that part can normally be carried out as an internship or work study program at a local Old Bethpage NY veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and supplementary costs, for instance for traveling and study supplies, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make certain that the program that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally certified accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent manner, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect choice for you.

What to Ask Old Bethpage NY Veterinary Technician Schools

Questions to ask Old Bethpage NY vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinary credential that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of veterinarian community colleges, vocational and technical schools in the Old Bethpage NY area and across the United States, you must ask some qualifying questions to help fine tune your list of alternatives. As we pointed out in our opening, many future students start by concentrating on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously touched on other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And obviously you need to enroll in a school that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other factors are covered in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are looking at.

Is the Vet Program Accredited? It’s imperative that you confirm that the vet tech school you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. 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 undergone a demanding review process that confirms you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is frequently a requirement for employment for many Old Bethpage NY area veterinarian practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you choose must have an exceptional reputation within the veterinary field. You can begin your due diligence by asking the schools you are reviewing for endorsements from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include looking on online school rating websites and speaking with the school’s accrediting agencies as well. You can ask the New York school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final suggestion, contact some Old Bethpage NY veterinarians that you may wish to work for after you go through your training. Ask what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more colleges not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The best approach to obtain clinical hands on experience as a vet tech is to work in a medical setting. Ask if the programs you are considering have internship programs arranged with Old Bethpage NY veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate clinical training and many provide it through internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial relative to the practical training, but an internship may also help develop connections in the local veterinarian community and help in the search for employment after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. To begin with, find out what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are evaluating. A lower rate might suggest that the teachers were unqualified to teach the curriculum or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the colleges have a job placement program and ask what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate could mean that the school has an excellent reputation within the Old Bethpage NY veterinary community and has a significant network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate might mean that the training is not highly thought of 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 receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Old Bethpage NY programs you are researching what their classroom student to teacher ratios are. You might also decide to attend some classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between instructors and students. Ask for feedback from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Yes, we already discussed location, but there are several more points to consider on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Old Bethpage NY home, you need to make certain that the commuting time fits into your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to check out the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the school is located in or near a large city. Also, if you do decide to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition charges particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, taking online classes might be an option that will give you more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s important that you find out if the vet schools you are looking at offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, a number of students continue to work full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Old Bethpage NY. Some might only be able to attend class in the morning or in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you need are offered prior to enrolling. Also, find out if you can make-up classes that you may miss because of sickness, work or family emergencies. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary training into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Old Bethpage NY?

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

Old Bethpage, New York

Old Bethpage is a hamlet and census-designated place (CDP) located on Long Island in the Town of Oyster Bay, Nassau County, New York, United States. The population of the CDP was 5,523 at the 2010 census.[1] It is served by the Old Bethpage Post Office, ZIP code 11804.

Old Bethpage and its neighboring hamlet, Plainview, share a school system, library, fire department and water district. Law enforcement for the community is provided by the Nassau County Police Department's Eighth Precinct.

In 1695, Thomas Powell bought about 10,000 acres (40 km2) from local Indian tribes, including the Marsapeque, Matinecoc, and Sacatogue, for 140 English pounds. This land, which includes present day Bethpage, East Farmingdale, Farmingdale, Old Bethpage, Plainedge, Plainview, South Farmingdale, and part of Melville, is known as the Bethpage Purchase and is approximately 3.5 miles (5.6 km) east to west and 5 miles (8.0 km) north to south.

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician School near Old Bethpage NY

Old Bethpage NY vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to beginning a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for pets and livestock. Potential students thinking about vet tech colleges must make their decision based on multiple key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They commonly take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you pick a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for reviewing schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final decision. And by picking the right school, you can achieve your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Old Bethpage NY.