Become a Vet Tech | Vet Tech Schools Whitestone NY

How to Find the Right Vet Tech School near Whitestone New York

Whitestone NY vet tech diagnosing puppy Realizing your long term dream of working with and helping animals by enrolling in a veterinary technician program near Whitestone NY may at first seem like a daunting endeavor. After all, you must find and enroll in a school that will provide the appropriate training to ensure that you can succeed as a veterinary technician. But just how do you tackle analyzing and comparing programs so that you can make the right choice? Many future students start their due diligence process by searching for colleges that are close to their homes. Once they have found some local colleges, they determine which ones have the cheapest tuition and hone in on those. Although location and expense are significant factors when evaluating vet technician programs, they are not the only critical ones when making your assessments. Qualifications such as internship programs and accreditation need to be looked into as well. The point is that there are questions you need to be asking the vet tech programs you are considering before you make an ultimate choice. We have provided several within this article to help get you started, but before we review them we’ll explore the different roles of veterinary technicians and the training alternatives available.

The Function of a Veterinary Technician in Whitestone NY

cat with cone after surgery in Whitestone NY Among the first decisions that you will have to make is whether you wish to train as a veterinary assistant, technologist or technician. Part of your decision may be predicated on the amount of time and money that you have to invest in your education, but the main factor will most likely be which specialization interests you the most. What techs and assistants have in common is that they both work under the immediate direction of a licensed and practicing veterinarian. And even though there are numerous jobs that they can carry out within the Whitestone NY veterinary clinic or hospital, they can’t prescribe medicines, diagnose ailments, or perform surgical procedures. In those areas they can only furnish assistance to a licensed veterinarian. There are technologists and technicians that work away from the conventional vet practice, for example for animal shelters, zoos or law enforcement. Let’s take a look at the job functions and training prerequisites for each specialization.

Vet Assistants in almost all instances will have undergone a formal 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 vocational school. As the name implies, their job function is to assist the vets and vet technicians in the execution of their duties. Generally they are not associated with more complex activities, for instance assisting with surgical procedures. A few of their normal responsibilities may include working at the front desk, cleaning and preparing examination rooms and equipment, or controlling animals during exams.
Vet Technicians go through more extensive training in contrast to assistants and usually obtain a two year Associate Degree, ideally from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited program. They are in a fashion the veterinarian counterparts of medical nurses, since their general 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 tasks, for instance assisting with surgical procedures or administering medicine. All states currently require veterinary technicians pass a credentialing examination for either licensing, registration or certification.
Vet Technologists are comparable to vet techs and basically perform the same work functions. They are mandated to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in veterinary technology, which typically requires four years to complete. Therefore the only real difference between a vet technician and a technologist is the technologist’s higher level of education. But with an advanced degree comes more career opportunities, increased salaries and potential management positions. They are also mandated to pass a credentialing examination for either certification, registration or licensing.

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

Veterinary Technician Online Programs Offered in Whitestone

student attending online vet tech school in Whitestone NY An alternative that might be a solution 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. Because the classes are provided by means of the internet, students can attend on their own timetable wherever a computer is accessible. The course of study is taught using various methods, including slide shows, videos and live streaming webinars. And since many vet technician and technologist degrees require practical training, that segment can normally be fulfilled as an internship or work study program at a local Whitestone NY veterinarian clinic or hospital. Distance learning, as it is also called, can in many instances reduce the cost of your education. Tuition and ancillary costs, such as for travel and study supplies, can be more affordable compared to more conventional classroom courses. Just make sure that the online school that you choose is accredited, either by the AVMA or another nationally recognized accrediting agency. With the online courses and the practical training, everything is provided for a complete education. So if you are dedicated enough to learn in this more self-reliant mode, an online vet tech school may be the perfect choice for you.

Things to Ask Whitestone NY Vet Tech Schools

Questions to ask Whitestone NY vet tech schools At this point you should have decided on which veterinary degree that you wish to obtain, and if you prefer to study online or attend a school on campus. Since there are an abundance of vet community colleges, vocational and trade schools in the Whitestone NY area and across the Country, you should ask some important questions in order to narrow down your list of options. As we mentioned in our opening, many future students start by prioritizing location and the cost of tuition. But we have previously pointed out other essential qualifiers, which include accreditation and internship programs. And obviously you want to enroll in a college that offers the degree and specialty that you want to earn. These and other qualifications are addressed in the list of questions that you need to ask the veterinary technician schools that you are considering.

Is the Veterinary College Accredited? It’s essential that you verify that the veterinary technician program you select is accredited by a regional or national accrediting agency. As earlier mentioned, among 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 screening process that ensures you will receive a quality education. Also, accreditation is important if you are requesting a student loan or financial aid, since numerous programs are not obtainable for non-accredited colleges. And finally, having a certificate or degree from an accredited program is in many cases a precondition for employment for many Whitestone NY area vet clinics and hospitals.

What is the College’s Reputation? The veterinary college or trade school and program you choose must have an outstanding reputation within the veterinarian community. You can initiate your due diligence by asking the schools you are looking at for references from the employers in their job assistance network. Other pointers include checking with 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 regarding your specific schools. As a final recommendation, contact some Whitestone NY vet clinics that you may want 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 get clinical hands on training as a vet tech is to work in a clinical environment. Ask if the schools you are reviewing have internship programs set up with Whitestone NY veterinarians, vet hospitals or clinics. Almost all veterinary medicine programs require clinical training and many provide it by way of internships. Not only will the experience be invaluable as far as 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? Finding a job after graduating from a vet tech school may be challenging without the help of a job placement program. First, find out what the graduation rates are for the schools you are reviewing. A lower rate might indicate that the teachers were ineffective at teaching the syllabus or that some students were disappointed with the program and quit. Next, check that the schools have a job assistance program and find out what their placement rates are. A higher placement rate may indicate that the school has an outstanding reputation within the Whitestone NY veterinary community and has a considerable network of contacts for student placements. A low 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 one-on-one instruction from the teachers. Solicit from the Whitestone NY programs you are considering what their class teacher to student ratios are. You may also decide to sit in on some classes (if practical) to observe the interaction between students and teachers. Get evaluations from students concerning the quality of instruction. Also, speak with the instructors and find out what their qualifications are as well as their approaches to teaching.

Where is the School Located? Okay, we already talked about location, but there are a couple of more points to make on the topic. If you are planning to drive to your vet tech classes from your Whitestone NY home, you must make certain that the commuting time is compatible with your schedule. For instance, driving during the weekend to investigate the route won’t be the same as the commute during rush hour traffic, especially if the college is located in or near a larger city. In addition, if you do choose to attend a school in another state or even outside of your County of residence, there may be increased tuition costs especially for community and state colleges. On the other hand, attending online classes may 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 veterinarian schools you are exploring 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 go to classes on the weekends or at night near Whitestone NY. Some may only be able to attend classes in the morning or later in the afternoon. Verify that the class times you require are offered prior to enrolling. In addition, find out if you can make up classes that you might miss due to work, sickness or family issues. You might find that an online school is the best way to fit your vet education into your hectic life.

Enrolling in a Vet Tech School near Whitestone NY?

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

Whitestone, Queens

Whitestone is a wealthy, upper middle-class residential neighborhood in the northernmost part of the New York City borough of Queens. The neighborhood proper is located between the East River to the north and 25th Avenue to the south. Whitestone is surrounded by College Point, Flushing, Bayside, Auburndale, Linden Hill, and Murray Hill.

Whitestone contains the subsection of Malba, which is bounded to the north by the East River, to the east by the Whitestone Expressway, to the south by 14th Avenue, and to the west by 138th Street. Malba was cited in a New York Times article as one of the few "elite enclaves" of Queens.[2]

Dutch settlers derived the name of the town from limestone that used to lie on the shore of the river according to a popular tradition. This tradition is supported by 17th century wills and deeds, which may be found in The New York Genealogical and Biographical Record, that refer to "the white stone" as a local landmark and survey reference point. Whitestone got its name because the settlers discovered that Whitestone was built on white limestone. The neighborhood is patrolled by the NYPD's 109th Precinct, and is part of Queens Community Board 7. It is traditionally bounded by the Bronx-Whitestone Bridge (opened 1939) on the west and the Throgs Neck Bridge (opened 1961) on the east.[3] The zip code of Whitestone is 11357.

Pick the Right Veterinary Technician School near Whitestone NY

Whitestone NY vet tech holding dog Selecting the appropriate veterinary technician school is a crucial first step to starting a gratifying career delivering care and treatment for animals. Future students considering veterinary technician programs must make their decision based on a number of key factors. Veterinary technicians and technologists are employed in vet clinics, animal hospitals and animal shelters. They usually handle administrative tasks and support the veterinarian with the animal patients as needed. As we have discussed, it’s imperative that you select a veterinary medicine program that is both accredited and has an excellent reputation within the field. This goes for online vet tech schools as well. By asking the questions included in our checklist for assessing schools, you will be able to narrow down your choices 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 Whitestone NY.