Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Valley Stream NY

How to Enroll In a Veterinary Technician Program near Valley Stream New York

Valley Stream NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Fulfilling your long term aspiration of working with and caring for pets by enrolling in a vet tech school near Valley Stream NY could initially feel like a daunting endeavor. After all, you have to search for 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 approach assessing and contrasting programs so that you can make the ideal selection? Many aspiring students begin their due diligence process by looking for colleges that are near their residences. Once they have located some nearby colleges, they find out which ones have the most affordable tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are important considerations when assessing vet technician schools, they are by no means the only critical ones when making your assessments. Factors 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 looking at before you make an ultimate decision. We have presented several within this article in order to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll go over the different roles of vet techs and the training options offered.

The Responsibilities of a Veterinary Technician in Valley Stream NY

cat with cone after surgery in Valley Stream NY Among the first decisions that you will have to make is if you want to train as a vet assistant, technician or technologist. Part of your decision might be dependent on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the principal factor will probably be which specialty appeals to you the most. What technicians and assistants have in common is that they both work under the direct guidance of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are a number of duties that they can carry out within the Valley Stream NY veterinary practice or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose conditions, or conduct surgeries. In those areas they can only provide assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work outside of the typical vet practice, for example for zoos, animal shelters or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and education prerequisites for each position.

Vet Assistants in most instances will have undergone a structured training program, either as an apprentice or intern 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 techs in the execution of their duties. Normally they are not associated with more involved activities, for example assisting with surgical procedures. Some of their regular functions may include working at the front desk, preparing and cleaning exam rooms and equipment, or controlling pets during examinations.
Vet Technicians receive more advanced training in contrast to assistants and generally obtain a 2 year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a sense the veterinarian equivalent of medical nurses, since their general job duty is to assist veterinarians with diagnosing and treating animal patients. Where they stand apart from veterinary assistants is that they are included in more complicated duties, for instance assisting with surgeries or providing medicine. All states presently mandate that veterinary technicians pass a credentialing exam for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are similar to veterinary techs and essentially perform the same job functions. They are required to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which normally requires four years. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technologist and a technician is the technologist’s more advanced level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, higher salaries and potential management positions. They are additionally required to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Schools Offered in Valley Stream

student attending online vet tech school in Valley Stream NY An approach that may make sense for those with a hectic lifestyle or who are working full time while attending vet college is to enroll in an online program. Since the classes are provided through the internet, students can study on their own timetable wherever a computer is available. The curriculum is taught using several venues, including videos, slide shows and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require clinical training, that part can typically be completed as an internship or work study program at a local Valley Stream NY veterinary practice or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in some instances lower the cost of your education. Tuition and secondary expenditures, such as for traveling and study materials, can be cheaper compared to more standard classroom programs. Just make sure 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 furnished for a comprehensive education. So if you are disciplined enough to learn in this more independent fashion, an online veterinary technician program may be the perfect option for you.

What to Ask Valley Stream NY Vet Tech Colleges

Questions to ask Valley Stream NY vet tech schools At this point you should have determined which veterinary degree that you wish to earn, and if you intend to study online or attend a college on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Valley Stream NY area as well as across the Country, you should ask some important questions to help narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our introduction, many potential students start by focusing on location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other significant qualifiers, for instance accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to select a program that offers the degree and specialty that you are interested in. These and other qualifications are addressed in the checklist of questions that you need to ask the vet tech programs that you are considering.

Is the Vet School Accredited? It’s essential that you make sure that the vet tech program you choose is accredited by a regional or national accrediting organization. As earlier mentioned, among the most highly regarded is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Trade schools and colleges that are accredited by the AVMA have gone through a demanding review process that confirms you will obtain a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are applying for a student loan or financial assistance, since a large number of programs are not available for non-accredited programs. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited school is frequently a prerequisite for employment for a number of Valley Stream NY area veterinary practices and hospitals.

What is the Program’s Reputation? The vet college or vocational school and program you enroll in should have an excellent reputation within the vet field. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references 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 department if there have been any complaints or violations regarding your targeted schools. As a final tip, phone some Valley Stream NY veterinary clinics that you may wish to work for after you get your training. Ask what they think about your school choices. They might even recommend one or more colleges not on your list.

Are Internships Offered? The most effective means to obtain clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Find out if the schools you are considering have internship programs established with Valley Stream NY veterinarians, vet clinics or hospitals. Most veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many furnish it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be beneficial as far as the practical 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 Job Assistance Provided? Finding a job after graduating from a veterinary technician program can be difficult without the help of a job placement program. First, ask what the graduation rates are for the programs you are reviewing. A low rate could mean that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the curriculum or that some students were unhappy with the program and dropped out. Next, verify that the colleges have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A high placement rate may mean that the college has an excellent reputation within the Valley Stream NY veterinarian community and has a substantial network of contacts for student placements. A low rate may signify that the training is not well regarded by employers or that the job placement program is a failure at placing students.

How Large are the Classes? If the classes are bigger, you probably will receive little or no personalized instruction from the teachers. Request from the Valley Stream NY programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You might also decide to sit in on a couple of classes (if practical) to monitor the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students regarding the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the teachers and find out what their qualifications are as well as their methods of teaching.

Where is the College Located? Of course, we previously talked about location, but there are several more points to make on the subject. If you are going to drive to your veterinary technician classes from your Valley Stream NY home, you need to confirm that the driving time is compatible with your schedule. For example, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, particularly if the campus is located near or in a large city. Also, if you do choose to attend a college in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be higher tuition costs particularly for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending classes online might be an alternative that will provide you with more flexibility and minimize the necessity for travel.

Do the Classes Fit Your Schedule? And last, it’s important that you ascertain if the vet colleges you are evaluating offer class times that are sufficiently flexible to fit your schedule. For example, many students continue working full time and can only attend classes on the weekends or at night near Valley Stream NY. Some might only be able to attend classes in the morning or in the afternoon. Make certain that the class times you require are offered before enrolling. In addition, determine if you can make up classes that you may miss due to work, sickness or family responsibilities. You might find that an online school is the best way to fit your veterinary education into your busy life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Valley Stream NY?

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

Valley Stream, New York

The incorporated Village of Valley Stream is inside the southwest part of the town of Hempstead, along the border with Queens. The village is served by the Long Island Rail Road at the Valley Stream station, located at Sunrise Highway and Franklin Avenue. It is also served by the Gibson station at Gibson and Munro boulevards, but only along the Far Rockaway Branch.

According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of 3.5 square miles (9.1 km2), of which 3.4 square miles (8.8 km2) is land and 0.04 square miles (0.10 km2), or 0.86%, is water.

In the year 1640, 14 years after the arrival of Dutch colonists in Manhattan (New Amsterdam), the area that is now Valley Stream was purchased by the Dutch West India Company from Rockaway Native Americans (they were a Lenape, or Delaware, band, known by the place where they lived).

Enroll in the Right Vet Tech College near Valley Stream NY

Valley Stream NY vet tech holding dog Selecting the right vet tech school is a critical first step to starting a fulfilling career providing care and treatment for animals. Students thinking about veterinary technician programs must make their determination based on a number of key issues. Veterinary technicians and technologists work in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They typically take on administrative duties and support the veterinarian with the animal patients when needed. As we have covered, it’s imperative that you choose a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the profession. This applies to vet tech online programs as well. By asking the questions provided in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your options so that you can make your final decision. And by selecting the best program, you can accomplish your goal of becoming a veterinary technician in Valley Stream NY.