How to Become a Veterinary Technician in Colorado

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.

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.

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.

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