Q. Alfred State Vet Tech Program

        Alfred State College offers a Veterinary Technology program. There are a lot of hands-on technical, animal, and laboratory experiences to help prepare the students for a licensed veterinary technician. There is a lot a vet tech must know how to do. The Alfred State Website says, “The veterinary technician is capable of providing nursing care, life support, laboratory specimen analysis, physical therapy, surgical assistance, anesthesia, dental hygiene, radiographic imaging, and nutritional management for their animal patients. The veterinary technician is also adept at client education and grief management counseling.” This is a very long list of a variety of things that are all very important in working with animals. The vet tech program is based out of the agricultural building at Alfred State. They have mice, rats, snakes, lizards, tortoises, turtles, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, as well as cat and dog kennels. They also have large animal laboratories at Alfred State farm to learn to care for a variety of farm animals including horses, pigs, sheep, goats, alpacas, and dairy cattle. Students spend about 24-36 hours a week in the classroom and in laboratories. There is a combination of hands on learning and lecture based courses. Alfred State has an Anatomy laboratory and an Animal and anatomy/necropsy wet lab. Alfred State costs about $19,000 per year that is without scholarships and with dorming. The veterinary technology degree does not mean you will have a job working in a veterinary office or at a small animal hospital. There are career options in all of the following:

·         Veterinary Hospitals (Small Animal, Large Animal, Mixed Animal and Exotic Animal)

·         Biomedical Research Institutions

·         Zoological Parks

·         Educational Institutions

·         Specialized Dairy Calf or Cow Management

Overall Alfred State offers a very good Vet tech program that prepares you for a job and to pass the VTNE test with a lot of hands on experience.