Veterinary Technology Programs
Veterinary technology programs continue to thrive in Colorado as students are mostly equipped for today’s and tomorrow’s professional environments.
Colorado has a far higher concentration of jobs than the national average. Furthermore, the Colorado Veterinary Technology occupation is expected to rise 36.5% from 2016 to 2026, much above the national average for this rapidly growing field.
Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology offers an associate degree in Veterinary Technology
The Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology is one of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) fully accredited schools with an eight-quarter work immersion.
Veterinary Technology Colorado Academy students begin with general education courses such as biochemistry and medical mathematics. Small class sizes are a selling point for the Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology.
Colorado Springs does not require working as a Certified Veterinary Technician under licensed veterinarians. However, certain occupations do as it is advantageous in terms of employment and promotion.
Private veterinary clinics widely employ veterinary technicians, but they may also work for various organizations that raise, rehabilitate, or care for animals.
General Student Information from DPOS Colorado:
- 48% of Title IV students complete the program within two years.
- Program Costs include $30,533 for tuition and fees and $1,600 for books and supplies. On average, these quotes are still subject to change.
- The typical graduate leaves with $18,500 in student debt.
- The regular monthly loan payment is $191 per month in student loans with an interest rate of 4.45%.
- 71% of program graduates got jobs, according to the Colorado Department of Private Occupational Schools (DPOS Colorado) job placement rate.
- 76% of program graduates got jobs, according to the Council on Occupational Education (COE) job placement rate.
- Program graduates are typically employed as Veterinary Technologists and Veterinary Technicians.
About the Program
Medical and surgical animal nursing procedures, laboratory testing, anesthesia induction, recovery maintenance, monitoring, and other clinical systems are all performed by Veterinary Technicians in veterinary facilities.
As a Vet Tech program graduate, you can effectively perform duties such as helping with client education and support, assisting veterinarians in an assessment, sedation, and treatments, and performing diagnostic laboratory procedures and imaging.
Your training will result in an associate degree of Applied Science (AAS) in veterinary technology. In addition, this program prepares students to pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) and earn their credentials.
Semesters must be completed chronologically.
Internships, clinical rotations, and apprenticeships are available throughout Colorado at animal hospitals and non-profit organizations.
Two-Year Program
The program starts four times a year and runs for eight quarters. Before graduating, all courses must be accomplished with a grade of “C” or above.
Vet Tech Specializations in Colorado
The scope of practice for Vet Techs differs from state to state.
In Colorado, Vet Techs can conduct veterinary medical tasks under a professional veterinarian’s guidance in veterinary medical-related settings, and indirect assistance may be suitable in some cases. However, immediate supervision is required for operations and dental treatments.
While a general Vet Tech may work anywhere in the country, some Vet Techs specialize in broadening their expertise, improving their career prospects, and even earning a gainful price for their practice.
Anesthesia and analgesia, behavior, clinical pathology, dermatology, dental, equine nursing, nutrition, internal medicine, surgery, zoological medicine, rehabilitation, and critical care are recognized by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA).
Job Prospects and Salary Information
The veterinary technician associate degree from CAVT will fortify you for immediate employment in private practice veterinary care, zoos, research organizations, and state and federal agencies, among other places. Employment opportunities for Vet Techs are many. Unfortunately, the quantity of graduates currently outnumbers the number of job openings.
Veterinary Technician employment opportunities in Colorado and the country are expected to increase in the coming years.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics forecasts a 16% percent increase in Vet Tech jobs overall between 2019 and 2029, far faster than the average for all occupations. As a result, Colorado’s prospects are considerably brighter, with a predicted 36.9% growth rate between 2018 and 2028.
Colorado wages are slightly higher than the national average, theoretically compensating for the rising cost of living.
Veterinary techs earn an average annual salary of $36,260 ($17.43 per hour). This data comes from the United States Occupational Outlook Handbook, Bureau of Labor Statistics.
According to the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center, Colorado ranks 35th in terms of affordability among states. Although Colorado residents save money on food and utilities, the increased cost of living in the housing, transportation, and healthcare may necessitate them to earn more than those in other parts of the country.
Colorado Veterinary Technician School Accreditation
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
The AVMA is the country’s renowned facilitator for the vet sector.
The AVMA is in charge of the following functions:
- Develop opinions on fundamental problems and advocate for Veterinarian teams so that they may continue to deliver vital veterinary services.
- Provide educational accreditation and certification programs to safeguard and improve veterinary care quality.
- Provide timely and appropriate goods and services that will enhance the AVMA’s chances of success and service while also assisting them in safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the animals in their care.
- Educate the public about the vital and diverse jobs of Veterinarian teams to perform to improve animal health.
Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)
The Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA), a branch of the AVMA, is the major programmatic accreditation organization for Vet Tech programs in Colorado.
In its program approval procedure, CVTEA considers many aspects, including institutional accreditation, physical facilities and equipment, clinical teaching resources, admissions processes, student results, and curriculum comprehensiveness.
State Board of Veterinary Medicine
In Colorado, the State Board of Veterinary Medicine oversees and licenses veterinarians.
The Board’s objective is to protect Colorado’s people and animals’ health, safety, and welfare by setting and enforcing professional standards by creating and maintaining regulations and policies. They guarantee that only qualified individuals are licensed to offer veterinary treatment and that violators of laws and regulations are appropriately sanctioned.
The Board’s responsibilities include:
- licensing veterinarians.
- Investigating grievances about the licensed and unlicensed practitioners of veterinary medicine.
- Punishing those who break the law or the Board’s rules; and
- creating, revising, and enacting suitable norms and regulations governing veterinarians’ conduct.