Veterinary Technician Schools in Colorado

People with a passion for animals end a deep-seated desire to make a difference in the lives of pets, and pet owners tend to consider a career as a veterinary technician. If you fall into this category, consider doing the same.

To start as a veterinary technician in Colorado, you must become familiar with the steps most people take to become vet techs in the state. First, you must understand the general steps familiar to aspiring vet techs in all states, followed by the specific steps peculiar only to vet techs in Colorado.

We have provided an in-depth yet concise guide below to get you started.

How To Become a Veterinary Technician in Colorado

Step 1: Earn a High School Diploma or GED

The ultimate goal of any aspiring veterinary technician in Colorado is to earn a degree from an accredited program and pass the VTNE. But all these will only be possible with a high school diploma or GED.

Not only do postsecondary institutions insist on it, but state licensing boards also do so.

Step 2: Complete in an Accredited Program

Once you have a high school diploma or GED, you may enroll in an accredited program for veterinary technicians. The major body responsible for accrediting veterinary technology programs is the CVTEA (Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities), the primary accreditation body of the American Veterinary Medical Association responsible for approving veterinary technician programs.

To be admitted into a Colorado vet tech school, candidates must send in their high school transcripts, pass a background check, and send proof of immunization.

Step 3: Externship or Work Experience Requirement

Externships are necessary to provide veterinary technicians with the hands-on experience they’ll need to succeed. For this reason, when students complete a veterinary technology training program in Colorado, they often have to complete an externship.

Here, they get to work with actual animals and find out how it feels to work in a real-world clinical setting.

Step 4: The VTNE

The Veterinary Technician National Examination is a worldwide exam that must be taken by all graduates of a vet tech program, regardless of state. Usually, passing the veterinary technician examination is the first step to becoming certified and licensed to practice.

In some states, passing the VTNE is enough to start practicing. However, a few extra steps are needed for vet techs in Colorado, as we’ll see below.

Explore other careers with similar paths:

• Become a veterinary assistant in Colorado

Top Veterinary Technician Schools in Colorado

Other Notable Mentions

Other notable programs for aspiring vet techs in Colorado include Colorado Mountain College, Community College of Denver, and Front Range Community College in Larimer.

Explore nearby states for education:

• Veterinary technician schools in New Mexico

Colorado State Licensure and Certification Requirements

Veterinary technicians in Colorado must obtain proper certification from the Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians (CACVT) before practicing professionally.

To qualify as a certified vet tech in Colorado, candidates must first graduate from an accredited program, pass the VTNE, and pay the certification fee.

Once certified, candidates are free to practice legally for two years before they are required by law to renew their certification.

Colorado Veterinary Technician Salary and Job Outlook

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, about 3,450 veterinary technicians in Colorado earn an annual average salary of $38,200, slightly higher than the national average of $37,868.

Top earners in the state often earn as high as $50,200 per year, while the lowest earners still make at least $27,530 annually.

The Bureau also projects that demand for veterinary technicians between 2019 and 2029 will grow by at least 16%.