Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Old Westbury NY

How to Choose a Vet Tech School near Old Westbury New York

Old Westbury NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your lifelong aspiration of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a vet tech program near Old Westbury NY could at first seem like a daunting undertaking. After all, you must search for and enroll in a program that will deliver the appropriate training to ensure that you can be successful as a veterinary technician. But just how do you go about analyzing and comparing schools so that you can make the right selection? Many future students start their due diligence process by looking for schools that are near their residences. After they have found some area colleges, they determine which ones have the lowest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when comparing veterinary technician schools, they are not the only critical ones when making your evaluations. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be evaluated as well. The point is that there are questions you ought to be asking the vet technician programs you are reviewing before you make an ultimate selection. We have provided several in this article to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various responsibilities of vet techs and the training alternatives offered.

The Function of a Vet Tech in Old Westbury NY

cat with cone after surgery in Old Westbury NY One of the initial decisions that you will have to make is if you plan to train as a vet assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your preference may be based on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your training, but the principal determiner will undoubtedly be which specialty interests you the most. What technicians and assistants share in common is that they all work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And although there are many duties that they can carry out within the Old Westbury NY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medications, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they may only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technicians and technologists that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for instance for zoos, animal shelters or police departments. Let’s take a look at the responsibilities and education requirements for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in most cases will have gone through a formal training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a vet clinic or hospital, or by finishing a certificate program at a trade school or community college. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet techs in the performance of their duties. Normally they are not involved with more complicated undertakings, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular duties may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more extensive training in contrast to assistants and typically acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the vet equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job function is to assist vets with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they differ from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex duties, for example assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states currently require vet techs pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet technicians and basically carry out the same work functions. They are required to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years to complete. 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 work options, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are also required to pass a credentialing exam for either certification, registration or licensing.

Vet techs and technologists may specialize in areas such as anesthesia, internal medicine or urgent care. A number may earn certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Old Westbury NY laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Programs Offered in Old Westbury

student attending online vet tech school in Old Westbury NY An option that may be a solution for those with a busy schedule or who are working full-time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided over the internet, students can attend on their own schedule wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since most vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that segment can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Old Westbury NY veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, may in many instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary expenditures, such as for traveling and study supplies, may be lower compared to more traditional classroom programs. Just make sure that the online school that you enroll in is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting organization. With the online classes and the clinical training, everything is included for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more independent mode, an online veterinary technician school may be the right choice for you.

Things to Ask Old Westbury NY Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Old Westbury NY vet tech schools At this point you probably have selected which veterinary degree that you would like to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of veterinary community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Old Westbury NY area as well as across the Country, you need to ask some relevant questions to help fine tune your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many future students start by prioritizing location and tuition expense. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for example internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a college that offers the degree and specialty that you would like to earn. These and other qualifications are reviewed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the vet tech programs that you are reviewing.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s important that you verify that the vet tech college you enroll in is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier discussed, among 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 obtain a superior education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since a large number of programs are not obtainable for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited college is often a prerequisite for employment for a number of Old Westbury NY area veterinary clinics and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or trade school and program you choose should have an exceptional reputation within the vet community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are interested in for references from the employers in their job placement network. Other pointers include looking on online school ranking websites and checking with the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the New York school licensing department if there have been any complaints or infractions relating to your specific schools. As a final recommendation, get in touch with some Old Westbury NY veterinarians that you might wish to work for after you go through your training. Find out what they think of your school selections. They may even suggest one or more 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 environment. Find out if the colleges you are considering have internship programs set up with Old Westbury NY veterinarians, vet hospitals or practices. The majority of veterinary medicine programs mandate practical training and a large number provide it by means of internships. Not only will the experience be valuable as far as the clinical training, but an internship can also help build relationships in the local veterinary community and aid in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Placement Program? Searching for a job after graduating from a vet tech college can be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. To start with, ask what the graduation rates are for the colleges you are reviewing. A low rate could suggest that the instructors were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, confirm that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate might indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Old Westbury NY vet community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A lower rate could signify that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job assistance program is ineffective at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you most likely will receive little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Old Westbury NY colleges you are researching what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also decide to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get feedback from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, talk with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the College Located? Okay, we previously discussed location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Old Westbury 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 commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the school is located close by or within a large city. In addition, if you do opt to enroll in a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and decrease the need for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And finally, it’s essential that you find out if the veterinary schools you are exploring offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to accommodate 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 Westbury NY. Others may only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make sure that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss because of work, illness or family issues. You might find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Old Westbury NY?

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

Old Westbury, New York

In 2007, Business Week dubbed Old Westbury as New York's most expensive suburb.[2]Old Westbury Gardens has been recognized as one of the three best public gardens in the world by Four Seasons Hotels magazine.[3]

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 4,228 people, 1,063 households, and 967 families residing in the village. The population density was 493.9 people per square mile (190.7/km²). There were 1,109 housing units at an average density of 129.5 per square mile (50.0/km²). The racial makeup of the village was 73.19% White, 4.24% African American, 0.02% Native American, 7.52% Asian, 3.67% from other races, and 2.37% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 17.14% of the population.

There were 1,063 households out of which 43.2% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 82.2% were married couples living together, 5.9% had a female householder with no husband present, and 9.0% were non-families. 5.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 2.9% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 3.33 and the average family size was 3.37.

Choose the Right Veterinary Technician School near Old Westbury NY

Old Westbury NY vet tech holding dog Choosing the ideal vet tech school is a crucial first step to beginning a rewarding career delivering 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 animal hospitals, veterinary clinics and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and assist the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have discussed, it’s essential that you enroll in a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for vet tech online colleges as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to narrow down your alternatives so that you can make your final choice. And by selecting the right school, you can reach your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Old Westbury NY.