by Article Table of Contents
- 1
- 2 Veterinary Technician Job Description
- 3 Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Colorado
- 4 Educational Requirements for Veterinary Technicians in Colorado
- 5 Veterinary Technician Examination
- 6 Job Prospects in Colorado
- 7 Veterinary Technicians’ Average Annual Salary in Colorado
- 8 Veterinary Technician’s Duties
Veterinary Technician Job Description
A veterinary technician is a person required to perform the role which entails a higher qualification level, without the supervision of a veterinarian.
They might be asked to take blood samples, give injections, give medication and all these duties demand the right training and knowledge.
Many people think that empathy and communication skills are enough qualifications for a veterinary technician, but veterinary technicians often have to work with technical machinery and lab equipment, with blood work and urinalysis, which is not at all naïve.
Becoming a Veterinary Technician in Colorado
If you have decided to try your luck with the vocation of a veterinary technician, the appropriate education will prepare you to work in a laboratory, as a patient coordinator, radiologist, and anesthetist.
You will have to be able to deal with a variety of animals such as those in zoos, on farms, exotic animals and pets.
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The application process for the programs depends on the high school you have finished and the veterinary college.
Some of the programs will allow you the education as a veterinary technician right after graduation from your high school, while some might require an entrance exam.
Educational Requirements for Veterinary Technicians in Colorado
The Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA) is in charge of accrediting programs and determining qualifications necessary for the veterinary technician profession and there are 217 accredited programs in the United States.
These programs require to educate technicians who will become capable of assisting veterinarians.
The Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians offers seven accredited programs throughout the state and it is important to choose only accredited ones as a graduate from these programs is eligible to take the veterinary technician national examination.
The veterinary technology programs accredited by the AVMA in Colorado are:
- Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology
- Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology
- Colorado Mountain College
- Community College of Denver
- Front Range Community College
- Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs
- Pima Medical Institute-Aurora
Besides math, chemistry and biology classes, the veterinary technology students will learn more specific subjects, like:
- Anatomy and physiology
- Anesthesiology
- Nursing
- Parasitology
- Microbiology
- Veterinary math
- Hematology
- Terminology
- Radiology
- Dentistry
- Courses related to individual animals
Colorado education requires that students have an internship at local clinics at the end of their classes.
Through the internships, they will be involved in working with live animals in different veterinary facilities, such as small and large animal hospitals, zoos, laboratories, veterinary teaching hospital, and emergency clinics.
Examples of partners which allow students to finish an internship in Colorado are:
- Littleton Equine Medical Center
- Denver Zoo
- VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital.
Programs can last from 18 months to two years and the tuition varies from $6,000 to $30,000.
The detailed information can be found on the school’s website, as well as info about financial aid packages.
The Colorado students are also offered scholarships from local philanthropic organizations, large businesses or private foundations.
The American Kennel Club and the Hartz Mountain Corporation are two great organizations that give annual scholarships to veterinary technician students, thus motivating young generations to enter this rewarding profession.
Veterinary Technician Examination
The graduation from a veterinary technician program is followed by the Veterinary Technician National Examination which costs $300.
The American Association of Veterinary State Boards requires the exam to be done to be eligible for the license and the results are sent to the Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians (CVT).
On their website, you can find the requirements for the maintenance of your license.
These are some of Colorado associations and Organizations which provide you assistance in keeping your certificate current:
- Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians
- Colorado Veterinary Medical Association
Job Prospects in Colorado
Upon graduation and achievement of an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Technology, your job prospects will be bright.
The employment of veterinary technicians will continue to grow, as the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) continues to promote the profession of a veterinary technician.
The increasing number of pet lovers and stray animals leads to the rise in the number of animal clinics, hospitals, and shelters, thus affecting the necessity for the larger number of veterinary technicians who will need to take care of them.
A veterinary technician who is in search of a job should not worry having in mind the fact that numerous clinics and hospitals are looking for technicians eager to start working in the desired field.
These are some of the veterinary technician employers in Colorado offering possibilities to veterinary technicians:
- Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (Fort Collins)
- Animal Eye Center (Loveland)
- Dumb Friends League (Denver)
- Arapahoe Animal Hospital (Boulder)
- VCA Anderson Animal Hospital (Lakewood)
- Banfield Pet Hospital (Colorado Springs)
- Denver Zoo (Denver)
- Humane Society (Pueblo)
Veterinary Technicians’ Average Annual Salary in Colorado
Social factors, like the development of the city where the clinic or shelter is located and the annual income of the citizens as well as the number of animals, held to affect the annual salary of a veterinary technician.
The personal qualities, like the experience and number of working hours of a veterinary technician all, have an impact on the salary and novice technicians cannot earn an equal amount as the already experienced ones.
The average annual salary for technicians in Colorado is approximately $35,490.
Annual Salary Range:| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Arvada,CO | $36,915 |
| Aurora,CO | $36,891 |
| Boulder,CO | $37,452 |
| Broomfield,CO | $37,074 |
| Castle Rock,CO | $36,375 |
| Colorado Springs,CO | $36,430 |
| Denver,CO | $36,915 |
| Fort Collins,CO | $35,401 |
| Grand Junction,CO | $35,593 |
| Greeley,CO | $35,596 |
| Jefferson,CO | $36,818 |
| Loveland,CO | $35,353 |
| Pueblo,CO | $33,837 |
| Westminster,CO | $36,915 |
Regional Salary in Colorado
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 350 | $43,470 | $20.9 | $54,390 | $35,970 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 530 | $41,810 | $20.1 | $48,040 | $31,500 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 1,940 | $43,490 | $20.91 | $50,010 | $36,020 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 430 | $42,740 | $20.55 | $50,970 | $31,980 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 110 | $37,130 | $17.85 | $47,530 | $30,100 |
| Greeley, CO | 180 | $40,410 | $19.43 | $48,140 | $31,480 |
| Pueblo, CO | 50 | $37,610 | $18.08 | $45,280 | $30,110 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Veterinary Technician’s Duties
The need for skilled veterinary technicians is in constant increase these days.
The duties that their job includes are preparing and assisting the surgery and emergency care situations.
They are given more serious tasks like prepare samples for lab examination and even do minor examinations.
Some of the veterinary technician daily responsibilities are:
- Cooperating with pet owners and staff members
- Assistance in surgery, examination and filling prescriptions
- Providing emergency care to sick or injured animals
- Clinical Pathology
- Dentistry
- Biomedical Research, just to mention a few.
The bigger and more popular hospital with a huge number of patients, the greater responsibilities and duties for the veterinary staff.
Read the full guide: How to Become a Veterinary Technician
Veterinary Technicians by State