Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Port Chester NY

How to Choose a Veterinary Technician School near Port Chester New York

Port Chester NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term goal of working with and caring for animals by enrolling in a vet tech college near Port Chester NY could at first seem like a daunting task. After all, you must find and enroll in a program that will deliver the proper training so that you can be successful as a vet tech. But just how do you go about evaluating and contrasting schools so that you can make the right choice? Many future students launch their due diligence process by searching for campuses that are close to their residences. When they have identified some local schools, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and cost are important considerations when assessing vet tech programs, they are not the only significant ones when making your assessments. Qualifiers such as accreditation and internship programs need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you should be asking the veterinary technician schools you are evaluating before you make a final selection. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we discuss them we’ll go over the various duties of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Responsibilities of a Vet Tech in Port Chester NY

cat with cone after surgery in Port Chester NY One of the first decisions that you will have to make is if you desire to train as a vet technician, assistant or technologist. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to devote to your education, but the principal determiner will probably be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct supervision of a practicing and licensed veterinarian. And although there are many jobs that they can perform within the Port Chester NY veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe drugs, diagnose ailments, or conduct surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish support to a licensed vet. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the conventional veterinarian practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the duties and education requirements for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an intern or apprentice in a practice, or by graduating from a certificate program at a community college or vocational school. 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 involved tasks, for example assisting with surgeries. Some of their normal duties may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or handling animals during examinations.
Vet Technicians undergo more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally acquire a two year Associate Degree, preferably from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their basic job function is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they vary from vet assistants is that they are engaged in more complex duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or administering medication. All states currently mandate that vet techs pass a credentialing examination for either registration, certification or licensing.
Vet Technologists are similar to vet technicians and for the most part carry out the same work functions. They are mandated to attain a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which usually takes 4 years to complete. Therefore the main distinction between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more job opportunities, higher salaries and possible management positions. They are additionally mandated to pass a credentialing exam for either registration, certification or licensing.

Veterinary technicians and technologists may specialize in areas such as internal medicine, anesthesia or emergency care. A number may receive certification from the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science (AALAS) to work in Port Chester NY laboratories or research facilities also.

Online Vet Tech Schools Offered in Port Chester

student attending online vet tech school in Port Chester NY An option that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending veterinary school is to enroll in an online training program. Because the classes are made available over the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since the majority of vet tech and technologist degrees require clinical training, that portion can typically be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Port Chester NY veterinarian practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, for instance for travel and study materials, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the program 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 furnished for a complete education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online vet tech school may be the right option for you.

What to Ask Port Chester NY Vet Tech Programs

Questions to ask Port Chester NY vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary credential that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are a large number of vet community colleges, trade and vocational schools in the Port Chester NY area as well as across the USA, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of alternatives. As we mentioned in our opening, many prospective students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have already pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance internship programs and accreditation. And naturally you need to select a program that offers the specialty and degree that you want to earn. These and other factors are addressed in the checklist of questions that you should ask the veterinary technician colleges that you are considering.

Is the Vet College Accredited? It’s imperative that you make sure that the vet tech school you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier stated, one of the most highly respected is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Vocational schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have undergone an extensive review process that verifies you will get a quality education. Also, accreditation is essential if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since many programs are not available for non-accredited colleges. Last, having a degree or certificate from an accredited school is in many cases a prerequisite for employment for many Port Chester NY area vet practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The veterinary vocational school or college and program you enroll in should have an outstanding reputation within the veterinary community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the colleges you are reviewing for testimonials from the employers in their job placement network. Other tips include checking with online school ranking websites and contacting the school’s accrediting organizations as well. You can ask the New York school licensing authority if there have been any grievances or infractions involving your specific schools. As a final tip, call some Port Chester 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 might even recommend one or more schools not on your list.

Are there Internship Programs? The most effective way to get practical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a medical environment. Find out if the programs you are looking at have internship programs established with Port Chester NY veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. The majority of veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and a large number furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable regarding the clinical training, but an internship may also help build associations in the local veterinary community and assist in the search for a job after graduation.

Is there a Job Assistance Program? Getting a job after graduating from a vet tech college may be difficult without the assistance of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are evaluating. A low rate could indicate that the teachers were unqualified to teach the course of study or that some students were dissatisfied with the program and quit. Next, verify that the colleges have a job placement program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may signify that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Port Chester NY veterinary community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate could indicate that the training is not highly regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are larger sized, you may get little or no one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Find out from the Port Chester NY schools you are considering what their class student to teacher ratios are. You may also want to participate in a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and instructors. Get evaluations from students relating to the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their backgrounds are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Yes, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to consider on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Port Chester NY home, you must make sure that the driving time fits into your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the drive during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or close by 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 higher tuition fees especially for state and community colleges. Of course taking online classes may be an alternative that will give you more flexibility and decrease the necessity for travel.

Is the Class Schedule Flexible? And last, it’s essential that you determine if the veterinary colleges you are evaluating 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 Port Chester NY. Others might only be able to go to classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are available before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you might miss due to sickness, work or family responsibilities. You may find that an online program is the best solution to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Port Chester NY?

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

Port Chester, New York

Port Chester is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States. The village is part of the town of Rye. As of the 2010 census, Port Chester had a population of 28,967.[2] Port Chester borders on the State of Connecticut to the east. The village's name is pronounced with the same stress pattern as the county's, i.e., "PORT ches-ter", not "Port CHES-ter".

The Bush-Lyon Homestead, Capitol Theater, Life Savers Building, Putnam and Mellor Engine and Hose Company Firehouse, St. Peter's Episcopal Church, and United States Post Office are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[4]

In 1660, three settlers from Greenwidge (now Greenwich, Connecticut), Thomas Studwell, John Coe, and Peter Disbrow, arranged to buy Manursing Island and the land near the Byram River from the Mohegan Indians. The land that they bought is now Port Chester. The village was originally known as Saw Pit for the saw pits in use during the time. Logs were cut in holes in the ground for wood to be used for shipbuilding. The name Sawpit was used for the first time in 1732. The village eventually outgrew this name and became Port Chester by incorporating as a village in 1868. When Port Chester was first incorporated, it was considered a major seaport.

Pick the Best Vet Tech Program near Port Chester NY

Port Chester NY vet tech holding dog Picking the appropriate vet tech college is an important first step to beginning a fulfilling career delivering treatment and care for pets and livestock. Future students looking into vet tech colleges need to make their decision based on multiple key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in veterinary clinics and hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative responsibilities and support the veterinarian with the animals as needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you decide on a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an outstanding reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for evaluating schools, you will be able to reduce your choices so that you can make your final decision. And by choosing the best program, you can achieve your goal of becoming a vet tech in Port Chester NY.