Veterinary Technology
including performing medical and surgical nursing procedures, laboratory testing, anesthesia induction, recovery maintenance, monitoring, and other clinical procedures.
As a program graduate, you will be able to perform tasks that include but are not limited to assisting with client education and support, assisting veterinarians in an exam, anesthesia, treatment, and performing diagnostic laboratory procedures and imaging.
Your education will lead to an Associate of Applied Science in veterinary technology and prepares you to take the Veterinary Technician National Examination to earn your credentials.
Veterinary technology two-year and three-year track classes are held at CCD's Lowry location in east Denver. Veterinary Technology apprenticeship courses are completed through remote learning via online modules and in-person labs.
Cohorts must be taken in order, and students cannot switch from one of the three tracks to another without going through a new application process (see more details below). Each track is limited to the first 24 applicants. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Internships, clinical rotations, and apprenticeships are provided by veterinary clinics and non-profits throughout Colorado.
CCD's Veterinary Technology Apprenticeship Program was the recipient of the 2023 Colorado Apprenticeship Award.
The apprenticeship program is a collaboration between the college, the employer, and Apprenticeship Colorado.
The program begins in the fall semester and runs continuously for five semesters, including two Winterim terms, for 21 months of continual study. Traditional college breaks do not occur with the apprenticeship program, and time off follows the policy of each employer.
If you are interested in becoming a Veterinary Technology apprentice but still have pre-requisite requirements, consider becoming a Pre-Apprentice.
All courses must be completed with a grade of "C" or above before graduation. The apprenticeship track curriculum will help you learn about the courses being offered. Learn more about the application process and apply today! Be sure to select Apprenticeship Track under "Program Selection."
The program begins in the fall semester and continues for five semesters (cohorts), including summer, for 18 months of continual study. All courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or above before graduation. The two-year track curriculum information will help you learn about the courses being offered. Learn more about the application process and apply today!
The program begins in the Spring semester and continues for seven semesters (cohorts), including two summer semesters for 26 months of continual study. All courses must be completed with a grade of “C” or above before graduation. Three-year track curriculum information will help you learn about the courses being offered. Learn more about the application process and apply today!
Essential functions necessary for a competent veterinary health technician are standards that protect the technician, other members of the health care team, and the animal patients.
- Ability to tolerate walking and standing for sustained periods of time.
- Capable of lifting and/or carrying up to 50 pounds from the floor to waist level frequently.
- Capable of using hands and arms to handle, install, position, and move materials.
- Capable of handling, positioning, and restraining live animals.
- Visual ability to see details at a close range and to make observations and assessments necessary in animal care.
- Visual ability to use diagnostic equipment, i.e., microscope, thermometer, refractometer, etc.
- Auditory ability is sufficient to monitor and assess health needs.
- Hear auscultatory sounds, monitor alarms, emergencies, and cries for help.
- Hear warning sounds from animals and humans of impending danger and or injury.
- Tactile ability sufficient for physical assessment and performing nursing duties.
- Perform palpation during physical exams.
- Administer oral, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intravenous medications.
- Insert and remove tubes and perform wound care management.
- Collect organic samples from live animals.
- Amenable to learning safe handling, restraining, and working with any species of domestic or exotic animals without fear. These animals may be sick, injured, fractious, or aggressive without fear.
- Willingness to assist with or perform a wide variety of routine medical-surgical and diagnostic procedures common to the veterinary setting, including humane euthanasia.
- Capacities to read and hear, understand, and quickly execute complex verbal and written instructions given in English.
- Possess emotional stability when performing duties in animal life-and-death situations or other stressful situations.
- Able to respond promptly and appropriately during emergencies.
- American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
- Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA)
These accreditations represent the highest standard of achievement for veterinary medical education in the United States. Accreditation of specialized professional and occupational schools, such as veterinary technology, is undertaken primarily to provide the public with an assurance of the quality of the educational preparation of that profession's members.
Graduation from an AVMA or CVTEA accredited institution is a prerequisite for licensure or certification for professional practice through the majority of state licensing boards and credentialing agencies in order to meet the educational prerequisites.
CCD Online offers fully online certificates and degrees, and individual online courses to help match your busy schedule. This program offers 27 percent of its degree either online or through a hybrid program.
Your first step is to see if online learning is right for you. Online and hybrid environments offer much more flexibility but require more self-direction and self-discipline. Certain work habits, learning styles and skills contribute to a successful online or hybrid learning experience.
Online Experience Questions?
303.352.6785 | TLC@ccd.edu
Some programs and/or courses may require additional fees in addition to the base tuition and fees. High-cost course fees are used to support the maintenance and development of the course labs and are embedded within your general tuition.
The following courses have additional fees:
VET 1008, VET 1016, VET 1034, VET 1083, VET 2005, VET 2025, VET 2038, VET 2080, VET 2081, VET 2082
View the 2024-2025 Course Specific Fees
This program is eligible for federal financial aid.
Your first step is to connect with the Financial Aid office to discover how you can afford college. Our dedicated staff and support services help you wade through all the legal language and get you past the first hurdle to completing your educational goals.
In addition, CCD has $1,000,000 available in scholarships. Learn More!
CCD two-year and three-year track vet tech students spend multiple semesters completing four different levels of internships at area veterinary hospitals and facilities, all of them approved and accredited with supervision provided by the veterinarian and veterinary technician. This hands-on, real-world experience in actual veterinary settings better prepares you for a career in veterinary technology.
CCD has partnerships with over 100 veterinary hospitals or facilities in and around the Denver metro area and beyond; our students are often hired by the facility after a successful internship. CCD students perform internships at area facilities. Some of them include:
- Animal Emergency and Specialty Center, Parker, Colorado
- Homestead Animal Hospital, Englewood, Colorado
- Aurora Animal Hospital, Aurora, Colorado
- Banfield the Pet Hospital, Glendale, Colorado
- Broadview Animal Clinic, Denver, Colorado
- VCA Alameda East Veterinary Hospital in Denver, Colorado
- Wheatridge Animal Hospital, Wheat Ridge, Colorado
What Can I Do with My Major?
CCD’s veterinary technician program will prepare you for immediate employment in work settings that include private veterinary clinics, zoos, research institutions, and state and federal agencies. Opportunities for employment as a veterinary technician are excellent. Job availability now exceeds the number of graduates.
How Much Can I Expect to Earn?
The annual median pay for veterinary technologists is $43,740 ($21.03 hourly) in May 2023. The information provided here is by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook.
Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) High Passing Rate
| July 1, 2020 - June 30, 2023 | |
|---|---|
| Number of First-Time Candidates That Have Taken the VTNE 90 | 79 |
| CCD 3-Year Pass Rate for First-Time Candidates | 78% |
National Average 3-Year Pass Rate for Frist Time Candidates 69%
| Total of 2022 Graduates | Total Students Employed in their Field of Study | Total Students Who Have Transferred to 4-Year Degree or Other Institution |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | 32 | 2 |
The veterinary technology assistant certificate seamlessly transfers to the veterinary technology A.A.S. degree.
The Veterinary Technology application is open.
- Please follow the instructions below and gather the appropriate documents before you complete our online application.
- Once you have these forms completed, please scan and save the documents to your computer. Then submit your accompanying forms as attachments to our online application.
- Complete the required prerequisite courses:
- BIO 1111 General Biology with Lab (within the last seven years)
- ENG 1021 English Composition or ENG 1031 Technical Writing
- MAT 1120 Math for Clinical Calculations or Higher
- If you are applying to the apprenticeship track, you must complete all prerequisite courses with a 3.0 GPA or higher to be considered for the apprenticeship program.
- Regardless of current or past experiences, applicants are required to observe at least two different veterinary technicians, not veterinarians, for a minimum of 4 hours each. Signatures and other pertinent information should be filled out on the Verification of Observation Form. Submit this form with the application. Download the form here.
- Two professional references are required. References should be obtained from a current or past employer, college professor, or someone else who can attest to the applicant's professionalism, commitment to learning, or similar attributes. Family members do not make good reference sources.
You are invited to attend an online vet tech information and advising session, which will cover information for both the associate and certificate programs.
Vet Tech Information Sessions
Join us for an information session to learn more about CCD's Vet Tech and Vet Assistant program.
Call-In Information: 720.650.7664
- TBD | 4 - 6:00 p.m. | Meeting ID: 2623 692 0945
You will learn more about the programs and application process, the profession of veterinary technology, and the examinations necessary for certification.
- Reservations are not required.
Regardless of current or past experiences, you are required to observe at least two (2) separate veterinary technicians (VT), not veterinarians, for a minimum of four (4) hours each. Signatures and other pertinent information should be filled out on the Veterinary Technology Observation Form (PDF). Print the form, fill it out, and have the VT you are observing sign it. Once these forms are completed, please scan and upload and submit them with your online application.
For each college or university attended, you must submit an official transcript directly to the Office of Registration & Records.
Veterinary Technology general prerequisites must show a cumulative GPA of 2.5 and 3.0 GPA for the apprenticeship track. Official transcripts are not required for prerequisites taken at CCD; however, we ask that you include them with your online application so that we can process your application more quickly.
If you are currently enrolled in CCD classes to complete your prerequisites, you may submit your registration information with your online application.
Prerequisites
You must have these prerequisites completed (or are in the process of completing them) to apply to this program.
- BIO 1111 (General College Biology or equivalent - no more than seven years old)
- English 1021 (English Composition or equivalent)
- MAT 1120 (Math for Clinical Calculations or higher)
Part of your application process is to submit two professional references. You must notify your references that they will be receiving an email from Community College of Denver asking them to complete the reference and return it to Shannon Burkhalter, program chair of the veterinary technology program.
Tuition for the two-year vet tech program is approximately $13,000. Other expenses to consider are books at $1,000 for the program and supplies: stethoscope, scrubs, and clinic fees for the two-year and three-year programs are about $650-700. The VTNE board fees are $330.
- Financial Aid is available for qualified students.
- Please apply one semester before enrollment.
- For more information, contact the Financial Aid & Scholarships office at 303.556.2420.
If you've already prepared application materials, you're ready to begin the online application.
After you have completed each step above and have submitted your completed online application, you will be emailed one of the following notifications:
- that your application is complete with the specifics of the next steps.
- that your application is incomplete and what is needed.
- or that your application does not meet the minimum qualifications.
Due to the large volume of applications received, we ask that you do not contact our office inquiring about your application status. We will contact you via your CCD student email address, informing you if your application is complete or if we need additional information. Please wait for the arrival of this email before contacting our office.
If you have applied to this program within the last two (2) years and want to reactivate your application, you must provide a written and signed letter requesting that the following be reactivated:
- You must resubmit the main application
- Verification of Observation
- Transcripts - Note: You must submit a new official transcript if any changes/updates have occurred before your last submission
- References
