If you want to become a veterinary assistant in Colorado, this article is for you!
You won’t only learn what is that you need to do for this career path, but also what salary you could expect to have!
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Requirements for a Veterinary Assistant in Colorado
Future veterinary assistants don’t need to meet many requirements in Colorado.
The law in this state only requires candidates to have proof they graduated from high school or a general education diploma.
Additionally, they’re required to be at least 18 years old for employment.
It is the employers who set requirements up, and they relate mostly to training.
Having national certification or an associate’s degree is something most employers prefer.
Most ads for this position mention these skills as being ideal:
- Good communication
- Able to multitask
- Resistant to stress
- Time management
- Anger management
- Team player
- Physically fit
All vet assistants interact with a variety of people, most of them being the owners of the pets.
You’re supposed to be fit because you’ll generally have to help lift or lift heavy animals on your own.
Additionally, a good amount of strength is needed when trying to subdue some of the pets.
Veterinary Assistant Employment and Job Duties
Vet assistants in Colorado can work in a variety of settings.
These include:
- Pet clinics,
- Animal rescue facilities,
- Animal shelters
- Zoos
- Educational institutions
Some of the best employers in Colorado are:
- VCA (Veterinary Centers of America)
- Vetco Wellness Centers and Vaccination Clinics inside PETCO
- Banfield Pet Hospital
The most common tasks for this type of personnel, are:
- Managing client records
- Keeping inventory count
- Instrument sterilization and sanitation
- Cage cleaning and disinfecting
- Preparing rooms for examining animals
- Preparing rooms for surgery
- Maintaining updated medical records
- Handling animal walking and exercise
Earning the National Certification for Veterinary Assistants in Colorado
As mentioned, national certification is the best tool to have for a career in the veterinarian field.
This certification is obtained from the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (or NAVTA).
NAVTA approved a series of programs and organizes an exam before issuing diplomas.
The NAVTA program can be completed in a maximum of 1 year.
To take the exam, you can follow one of the paths below:
- Complete the NAVTA-approved coursework
- An internship – employment with a veterinarian is a must for this option
- Obtain experiential learning – you must be working part-time in a vet office
- Get certified while employed – you need permission to take the exam if you are already employed
The required documentation and the $100 exam fee are needed by the individuals wanting to be certified.
Other certifications and even an associate’s degree are accepted for a future vet assistant.
The degree will take 2 years to complete.
You can obtain these from the following institutions:
- High schools
- Training centers
- Community colleges
- Online programs
Even these schools have requirements when it comes to enrolment.
They will vary from school to school.
The schools below have programs suited for vet assistants.
Top 8 Schools in Colorado
| School Name | Address |
|---|---|
| Apex College of Veterinary Technology | 330 S El Paso St, Colorado Springs, CO 80903 |
| Bel-Rea Institute | 1681 S Dayton St, Denver, CO 80247 |
| Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology | 2766 Janitell Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906-4944 |
| Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians | 191 Yuma St, Denver, CO 80223 |
| Community College of Denver | 1070 Alton Way building 849, Denver, CO 80230 |
| Pima Medical Institute | 13750 E Mississippi Ave, Aurora, CO 80012 |
| Pima Medical Institute | 5725 Mark Dabling Blvd, Colorado Springs, CO 80919 |
| Pima Medical Institute | 7475 Dakin St Suite 100, Denver, Colorado 80221 |
Once enrolled, expect to study topics such as these:
- How to identify different breeds
- Animal anatomy
- The best ways to administer meds
- How to administer post-operative care
- Handling various breeds of animals
- Medical terminology
- Handling chemicals
Salary Information for a Veterinary Assistant in Colorado
The salary you can receive for certain jobs can be motivating enough to get into those fields.
How much a vet assistant earns, depends on several factors.
Some of the factors are their credentials, how much experience they have, and even the location.
In some facilities, you might have to work night shifts and this can significantly increase your paycheck.
As a guideline, below you can see the median salaries for veterinarian assistants across the main cities in Colorado.
Annual Salary Range:Average Salary of Veterinary Assistants in Colorado
City Name Salary Denver $32,184 Colorado Springs $31,675 Aurora $32,163 Atwood $29,529 Fort Collins $30,981 Arvada $32,184 Pueblo $29,514 Westminster $32,184 Boulder $32,601 Thornton $32,184 Regional Salary in Colorado
Region Employed Avg. Annual Salary Avg. Hourly Pay Top 10% Annual Salary Bottom 10% Annual Salary Boulder, CO 210 $38,790 $18.65 $45,770 $29,670 Colorado Springs, CO 380 $34,250 $16.47 $37,590 $29,160 Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO 1,260 $36,790 $17.69 $42,920 $29,060 Fort Collins, CO 240 $35,870 $17.25 $42,740 $30,360 Grand Junction, CO 60 $32,470 $15.61 $39,390 $28,010 Greeley, CO 120 $34,740 $16.7 $42,060 $28,100 Pueblo, CO 40 $31,800 $15.29 $34,890 $28,640
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Additional Information for Veterinary Assistants in Colorado
The national certificate that NAVTA issues, has to be renewed every 2 years.
For this purpose, individuals must complete several continuing education hours and to pay a fee.
