How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Colorado

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If you are looking for a job in the animal healthcare industry, you should consider becoming a vet tech.

There are many opportunities for vet techs in Colorado, so check out the requirements in this state.

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Veterinary Technician Job Description and Duties in Colorado

As a vet tech, you will be working with animals, and you will be supervised by a veterinarian.

Your usual daily duties will include:

  • Administering medications
  • Taking x-rays,
  • Processing tissue samples,
  • Assisting in surgery and emergency care
  • Performing lab tests
  • Teeth cleaning,
  • Electrocardiography,
  • Bandaging,
  • Wound cleaning,
  • Maintaining detailed and accurate records
    • Of meds, supplies, patients

In Colorado, you cannot perform surgeries or provide medication as a vet tech.

Education and Training Required for Veterinary Technicians in Colorado

If you had a job as a vet assistant at some point, you can become a vet tech without needing any extra training.

if you are new to the industry, you will need to get a vet tech license before you can practice.

To get a license, you also need to get a Veterinary Technology Associate’s Degree of Applied Science.

This degree is provided by many accredited training programs and has a duration of 2 to 3 years.

The accreditation should come from the American Veterinary Medical Association.

Another idea is to get a degree in Animal Science with a specialization in veterinary tech.

You will also need to practice, and for this, you need to join an internship or an externship.

Have a look at the following schools below for extra info.

Top 11 Schools in Colorado

School NameAddress
Apex College of Veterinary Technology330 S. El Paso Street Colorado Springs, CO 80903
Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology1681 S Dayton St, Denver, Colorado 80247
Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology2768 Janitell Road, Colorado Springs, Colorado 80906-4944
Colorado Mountain College3000 County Rd. 114 Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
Community College of Denver1070 Alton Way, Bldg. 849 Denver, CO 80230
Front Range Community College3645 W 112th Ave, Westminster, Colorado 80031
Lamar Community College2401 S Main St, Lamar, Colorado 81052-3999
Pickens Technical College500 Airport Blvd, Aurora, Colorado 80011-9307
Pima Medical Institute5725 Mark Dabling Blvd, Suite 150 Colorado Springs, CO 80919
Pima Medical Institute7475 Dakin St Suite 100, Denver, Colorado 80221
Pima Medical Institute13750 E. Mississippi Avenue, Aurora, Colorado 80012-0000

Joining any of these schools generally requires:

  • Being at least 18 years old
  • Having a high school diploma or GED
  • Minimum a grade of C in these subjects: biology, English composition, math, basic computer science, psychology, humanities, and public speaking
    • Future students must complete these classes right before enrolling in the degree program
  • 2 letters of recommendation
    • One of them must come from a veterinarian
  • Health insurance
  • Buying a medical malpractice policy
  • 360 hours of previous practical experience

If you cannot really afford tuition, you could qualify for a scholarship or work-study.

During your training, you will study the next subjects:

  • Introduction to veterinary technology
  • Anatomy and physiology
  • Emergency care and first aid
  • Pathology
  • Anesthesiology
  • Radiology
  • Immunology
  • Pharmacology
  • Parasitology
  • Toxicology
  • Nutrition

You will also need at least 20 hours of practice in an accredited clinical site.

Usually, the last semester is a preceptorship.

Becoming a Licensed Veterinary Technician in Colorado

Vet technicians in Colorado are licensed by the Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians.

To get the vet tech license, you will need:

  • An application form
  • Proof you graduated from the training program described earlier
  • To pay some fees
    • $300 for the exam
    • $100 for the license
  • Score at least 70% on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE)

The VTNE consists of 150 questions and lasts for 3 hours.

Your vet tech license has to be renewed every year in Colorado.

To renew it, you need to attend 8 extra hours of class in an accredited facility.

The Colorado Veterinary Technician Association (AVTA) is the most important resource for vet techs in Colorado.

This way, you can easily find a job and continue your education as well.

Employment and Salaries for Veterinary Technicians in Colorado

To help you decide if you want to work in this industry, you first need info about employment.

You also need to know how much you will make as a vet assistant in Colorado.

Vet techs can work for facilities such as:

  • Private clinical practices
  • Zoos
  • Veterinary teaching hospitals
  • Rescue centers
  • Wildlife or exotic animal rehabilitation centers
  • Humane societies,
  • Research facilities,
  • Pharmaceutical companies

These are some of the biggest facilities to work for as a vet tech in Colorado:

  • Animal Hospital of Colorado, Ft. Collins
  • Animal Hospital of Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs
  • Pueblo Area Pet Emergency Hospital, Pueblo
  • The University of Colorado, Office of Animal Research, in Boulder
  • Colorado Veterinary Specialists and Animal ER, Littleton

How much you will make depends on many factors.

You can earn more if you live in a larger area and if you have better credentials.

You will also be able to earn more if you have some experience in working with animals.

Annual Salary Range:
$31K
$36K
$43K

Average Salary of Veterinary Technicians in Colorado

City NameSalary
Denver$37,481
Colorado Springs$36,888
Aurora$37,456
Anton$37,110
Fort Collins$36,080
Arvada$37,481
Pueblo$34,371
Westminster$37,481
Boulder$37,966
Thornton$37,481
* Salary information last updated 2024

Additional Information for Veterinary Technicians in Colorado

As a vet tech in Colorado, you should have a look at the next resources to learn more about the industry:

  • Colorado State Veterinary Medical Association
  • National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA)
  • Veterinary Career Network
  • Vet Tech Life
  • Vetcetera,
  • Where Techs Connect
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