Veterinary Technician Degree
Offered at: Larimer
FRCC's Vet Tech programs educate and empower students to work as veterinary health care professionals who interact with other veterinary health care professionals, patients and clients in a professional and ethical manner.
Students will develop the highest possible technical skills and demonstrate creative thinking and problem-solving abilities required in the veterinary field. Students will demonstrate utmost respect and concern for the well-being of their patients and
understand the importance of team dynamics.
The program will foster life-long learners and facilitate continuing educational opportunities for veterinary health care professionals. Our Vet Tech training program is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technical Education and Activities.
The A.A.S. Vet Tech degree is a full-time program. First semester classes cover general education requirements and start a student’s focus on a veterinary profession. The next four semesters are spent in veterinary specific studies using a variety of methods to gain both academic and hands on proficiency. We utilize as many different approaches as we can to topics, to help students absorb knowledge and perfect skills. Some classes focus on live animal work, others laboratory procedures, some are more academic. Clinical experiences are focused in fourth and fifth semesters of the program giving students real life experience.
High Pass Rate on VTNE Exam
| VTNE Pass Rates
|
July 1, 2019 - June 30, 2022 |
| Number of first-time candidates that have taken the VTNE |
72 |
| FRCC1st time test takers three-year VTNE pass percentage |
90%
|
| All VTNE 1st time test takers three-year average pass rate national average |
72.69% |
Vet Tech Degree
A.A.S. in Veterinary Technology
71 credits
(5 semesters)
|
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. The program covers topics such as anatomy
and physiology, radiology, parasitology, medical and surgical nursing, anesthesia and pharmacology.
This program is full-time. First semester classes cover general education requirements and begin to focus the student towards the veterinary profession. The next four semesters are spent in Veterinary Science-specific studies using a variety of methods to gain both academic and hands-on proficiency. We utilize as many different approaches as possible to topics to help students absorb knowledge and perfect their skills. Some classes focus on live animal work; others on laboratory procedures; and, some are more academic. The fourth and fifth semesters focus on clinical experiences giving students real life knowledge of the profession.
Upon completion of the Veterinary Technician degree, you will be prepared to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).
Once you pass the VTNE, you can apply to become certified as a veterinary technician in the state of Colorado.
Vet Technology degree: See required courses and descriptions.
See Vet Tech admissions process and requirements.
|
What You Will Learn
Upon completion of the program, students will be able to:
- Provide professional and compassionate health care to a variety of species while upholding applicable laws and the profession’s ethical codes.
- Understand, demonstrate and perform patient assessment techniques, proper care and handling of animals, as well as their normal and abnormal life processes.
- Safely and effectively manage patients in all phases of anesthetic procedures, as well as safely and effectively select, utilize and maintain anesthetic delivery devices and monitoring equipment.
- Properly package, handle and store laboratory specimens and carry out diagnostic analysis of laboratory specimens including blood, urine, feces, tissue and bodily fluids.
- Understand and evaluate laboratory results in conjunction with a veterinarian.
- Demonstrate knowledge of clinical pharmacology to safely and effectively administer and dispense prescribed drugs to patients.
- Communicate in a professional manner to the veterinary team and provide appropriate client education.
- Safely and effectively perform medical, imaging and dentistry procedures on both large and small animal in compliance with federal, state, and local laws.
- Understand and provide proper instruments, supplies and environment to maintain asepsis during surgical procedures
- Establish and maintain a work environment that ensures the safety of clients, animals and staff.
Veterinary Assistant Certificate
What You Will Learn
The NAVTA approved Veterinary Assistant program provides education in veterinary health and handling of a variety of domestic, exotic, and large animal species with emphasis on assisting the entire veterinary team. Upon completion of the Veterinary
Assistant certificate students will be able to
- Maintain a clean and safe work environment by utilizing patient and personnel safety measures.
- Assist with client relations and front desk responsibilities emphasizing professional communication and conduct.
- Demonstrate knowledge of clinical pharmacology to perform inventory procedures, label and package dispensed drugs correctly, and recognize legal issues involving all therapeutic drugs.
- Perform examination room procedures, such as properly restrain small animals, pocket pets and exotics while maintaining a fear free approach.
- Perform basic small animal procedures and obtain vital physiologic data recognizing normal versus abnormal values
- Recognize different breeds of dogs and cats and normal versus abnormal animal behavior.
- Assist with small animal nursing procedures, provide routine record keeping and observation of hospitalized patients.
- Assist in performing surgical preparation including sterilization of instrumentation and supplies, patient preparation, surgical suite equipment maintenance.
- Assist in a variety of laboratory set-up procedures including urinalysis, fecal flotations, blood samples, ectoparasites, and necropsy.
- Perform radiology safety measures and assist with the completion of diagnostic radiographs.
Vet Tech Salaries
| Jobs |
Entry |
Average |
Experienced |
| Laboratory Animal Caretakers |
$27,147
|
$31,238
|
$33,283
|
| Veterinary Technicians & Technologists |
$30,642
|
$38,198
|
$41,976
|
Colorado Dept. of Labor & Employment (2021)
Professional Licensure Disclosure
Students enrolling or continuing at Front Range Community College (FRCC) have a right to certain information that the college must provide. As a student applying for or attending the Veterinary Technology Program (VET), you have the right to know it meets the certification or approval criteria for Colorado. The degree/certificate may count towards credentialing in states other than Colorado. If you are planning to seek work outside of Colorado, it is strongly recommended that you contact that State's certifying, registering, or licensing entity for guidance before you begin this program. State-by-state information is available at the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) site.
This program meets the applicable state prerequisites for certification in Colorado as listed below:
FRCC has not determined if the Veterinary Programs meets applicable state prerequisites for credentialing in states other than Colorado. These states include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, District of Columbia, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming and U.S. Territories: American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.