In 1972 the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) created the Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA). The Committee was charged with accrediting programs that adequately educate technologists and technicians capable of assisting veterinarians. The governing body for certified veterinary technicians in Colorado is the Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians Show
SPONSORED LISTINGS Featured Programs: With Penn Foster's Veterinary Technician Program, you'll learn the skills that will help you take the first step towards a career as a Veterinary Technician. (NAVTA) Approval Earn your AVMA CVTEA accredited associate degree through our flexible, affordable, and career-focused vet tech program online. The program includes 270 hours of clinical experience, giving you hands-on practice working with animals while you do your coursework online. What Does a Veterinary Technician in Colorado Do?Your education will prepare you to assist the veterinarian as surgical and procedural assistant, laboratory technician, patient coordinator, record keeper, radiologist (x-rays), anesthetist, and many other duties. Jobs exist working for clinics, hospitals, non-profit organizations (rescue centers or humane societies), government, research, zoos, and the military. The seven Colorado programs provide exposure to a variety of animals: zoo animals (variable types); farm animals (cattle, horses, sheep, goats, pigs, llamas); exotic animals (snakes, lizards, turtles, owls, eagles, hawks, vultures); lab animals (rats, mice, guinea pigs); and, of course, pets (ferrets, hamsters, birds, cats and dogs), though not all these in every program. Veterinary technicians can also specialize in these disciplines:
(Click here for more information on these academic specialties.) There are 217 accredited programs in the United States, with seven in Colorado. Three classifications exist: full, initial and probationary. Full accreditation means that the program has met all the standards set by the CVTEA for a period of five years or more. Initial accreditation means that a program is new (five years or younger) and is making acceptable progress toward full accreditation. Probationary accreditation means that a program has deficiencies, but those are correctable within two years. All three classes of programs are officially accredited. A graduate from any of these programs is eligible to take the veterinary technician national examination. Locations and Classification of Accredited Colorado ProgramsDenver (2 with full accreditation) (For a list of Colorado’s seven accredited programs, click here) Application to an Accredited ProgramDepending on your high school education, you may be prepared to begin your education as a veterinary technician right after graduation. Some schools accept a GED. Some require an entrance exam. Visit each school’s website for application guidelines and admission requirements. What You Will StudyBecause veterinary medicine is a science, there is a heavy emphasis on hard sciences. Typical course work includes basic math, chemistry and biology, some of which you might have completed in high school or can take at a local community college. Some programs require a more rounded education to include courses in human relations, psychology, technical writing, and public speaking. More specific course work includes:
Colorado InternshipsColorado programs require an internship the final few weeks or quarter at local clinics and facilities working with live animals in real medical situations. The programs partner with hundreds of clinics and facilities around the state (some out of state as well). Click here for specific curricula, a list of accredited schools, required course work, and internships available. Types of Colorado Internships:
Examples:
How Much Does it Cost and How Long Does it Take?Programs range from 18 months to two years. Some allow you to spread it out over three years. Some charge more for out of state tuition. For the entire program, tuitions range from $6,000 to $30,000. Fees are commonly $2,000 to $3,000 for books and supplies (for example, your own stethoscope, lab coat, thermometer, scrubs, etc). Living and transportation expenses are variable and depend mostly on whether you live at home, on or off campus, and how much you travel. Every school’s website has financial aid information. Most of the traditional college financial aid packages (federal loans and grants, and the GI bill) are available to students in the veterinary technician programs. Scholarships available from local philanthropic organizations, large business or private foundations can be found in books and myriad websites listing the many organizations assisting students seeking financial aid. The American Kennel Club and the Hartz Mountain Corporation provide annual scholarships specifically for veterinary technician students. Job Prospects and Potential PayYou will graduate with an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Technology and will be eligible to take the National Veterinary Technician Exam. Job prospects are bright. The United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates the employment of veterinary technologists and technicians will continue to grow 30% annually through the year 2022. The average annual pay for technologists and technicians in Colorado was $31,490 (BLS, May 2013) Regional Colorado Salaries City/Area Average annual salary (May 2013)
(Pay ranges higher at universities, government and research facilities.) Potential EmployersColorado State
University Veterinary Teaching Hospital (Fort Collins) Testing and CredentialsThe Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) is an exam administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards. To qualify for the exam you must have a degree from an AVMA/CVTEA accredited veterinary technician program. The exam is three hours long, has 150 questions, and costs $300. If you take the exam in Colorado, results will automatically be forwarded to the Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians (CACVT), the organization that handles certification and maintenance of certification requirements the rest of your career in Colorado. The two Colorado programs that reported their students’ pass rate of the VTNE on their first attempt was above the national average of 74%. You Passed What’s Next?Your internship performance and contacts made there are really the beginning of your job search. Some schools help with resume writing and interview skills. The CACVT has a job posting page sorted by the five major geographic regions of the state. The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA), an organization that represents and promotes the profession of veterinary technician, also has a career center page on their website. (The CACVT website has guidelines and requirements for the required continuing education to keep your certification current.) Colorado Associations and Organizations to Keep You Current Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians Further Career PosibilitiesThe veterinary technician program usually takes two years, during which you will earn an associate’s degree. The veterinary technology program is a four-year commitment and results in a bachelor’s degree. The career prospects and pay for a technologist versus a technician are somewhat better and more varied, with more technologists employed in research-related jobs. Credits earned in the technician program can be applied to the technology degree, at the discretion of each individual school. How much do certified vet techs make in Colorado?Vet Tech Median Annual Salary. How long is vet tech school in Colorado?The veterinary technician program usually takes two years, during which you will earn an associate's degree. The veterinary technology program is a four-year commitment and results in a bachelor's degree.
What state has the highest paid vet techs?The states and districts that pay Veterinary Technologists and Technicians the highest mean salary are District of Columbia ($66,850), Connecticut ($48,620), Nevada ($48,390), California ($47,580), and Massachusetts ($46,480).
What type of vet techs make the most money?Emergency & Critical Care Vet Tech Salary
The salaries of emergency and critical care vet techs were also the highest on Salary.com, where the average salary for vet techs in emergency and critical care at companies like Ethos Veterinary Health in the United States was $91,979.
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