Veterinary Technician Degree
Offered at: Larimer
Do you enjoy caring for animals? Are you interested in working on a veterinary team where your responsibilities include nursing care of animals, laboratory work, surgical assisting, dental prophylaxes, record keeping, and client education? If so, FRCC’s Veterinary Technology Program may be a great fit for you. The vet tech program provides training in veterinary health and the handling of animals encountered in a veterinary practice or biomedical research setting. 
Veterinary Technician Degree
The Veterinary Technician Degree (A.A.S.) trains students in veterinary health and handling of a variety of animals including household pets, food animals, exotic animals, birds, and lab animals. See course descriptions.
A variety of vet tech career possibilities
Veterinary technicians work in small- and large-animal clinics, clinical laboratories, rescue and humane societies, drug and feed companies, biomedical research, and the military. There are many opportunities to specialize as your career advances, working in emergency and critical care, dentistry, ophthalmology, anesthesia, internal medicine, and behavior. Learn more about career possibilities with a veterinary technician degree.
Gain clinical experience in our Vet Tech Program
The Vet Tech Program is a full-time program with classes during the day. The first three semesters, students attend classes at the Larimer Campus. During the third semester, students complete clinical internships in private practice to gain beginning veterinary technician experience. In the fourth and final semester of the program, students complete clinical rotations at Colorado State University’s Veterinary Teaching Hospital.
Become a certified veterinary technician
Upon completion of the Veterinary Technician degree, students will be eligible to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). Once you pass the VTNE, you must apply to the state of Colorado to become certified as a veterinary technician. Learn more about vet tech certification in Colorado.
Admissions process into the Vet Tech Program
To be admitted to the Vet Tech Program to earn an A.A.S. in Veterinary Technology, students must complete two separate applications:
- An FRCC application
- A Veterinary Technology Program application. Once you have completed and submitted this form, you will be notified by the Veterinary Technology program and placed on the wait list. The program is limited to 24 people each semester.
Other admissions requirements:
- Attend an informational meeting. Meetings are from 4 - 5 p.m. the first Thursday of each month in the Mount Antero building, Room 131
- Meet with an FRCC advisor. You can start the admission process by getting started here.
- Complete required prerequisite classes. See course descriptions:
- Complete two additional general education courses, which you can take simultaneous with the Veterinary Technology Program courses. Required courses include:
Download the Veterinary Technology admission checklist for more details on these steps.
Alternate vet tech pathways
In addition to the A.A.S. Veterinary Technician degree, FRCC also offers programs in related fields of study:
Resources for the FRCC Vet Tech Program
Vet Tech Program Accreditation
FRCC’s Veterinary Technology Program is fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technical Education and Activities.
Annual Salary
| |
Entry |
Average |
Experienced |
| Veterinary Technicians & Technologists |
$22,800 |
$30,000 |
$41,600 |
Colorado Department of Labor and Employment (2011)