Requirements

• The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredits veterinary technology programs in the United States. The AVMA-accredited programs lead to both associate and bachelor's degrees. All vet tech students must performan externship, a period of clinical experience in a veterinary setting as part of their training and prior to licensing.
  
  

Licensing

• To become a licensed vet tech in New York, students must participate in and graduate from an American Veterinary Medical Association accredited program. The Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE), which is the credentialing exam required for licensing, can be taken only as the culmination of training at an AVMA-accredited school.
  
  

Profile

• The veterinary technician is a crucial part of any veterinary practice. They assist the veterinarian with such tasks as animal restraint, lab analysis and physical therapy. They provide an extra pair of hands in surgery or anesthesia. Vet techs are trained to deliver knowledgeable, professional care to animal patients. They provide nursing assistance to both animals and their owners, setting a professional and compassionate tone for the practice.
  
  

Curricula

• To prepare for the duties of a vet tech in New York, the curricula at vet tech schools include classes that focus on anatomy, small animal diseases, farm animal restraint, lab animal science, ethics, animal nutrition and veterinary practice management. Students will study animal, social and behavioral sciences, microbiology and chemistry, among other related subjects.
  
  

Options

• There are several credentialed programs of study for vet techs in New York State. A complete list and contact information is available at nysavt.org. In New York City, only LaGuardia Community College offers a vet tech program. The other New York State-credentialed schools are Suffolk County Community College in Brentwood, and in the SUNY system at Alfred, Canton, Ulster and Delhi. Mercy College in Dobbs Ferry and Medaille College in Buffalo have vet tech programs.