Veterinary assistants have been educated in the care and handling of animals.
They work under the supervision of a licensed vet
They’re involved in all the animal hospital activities, performing a variety of tasks.
For example, they comfort pet owners during extremely stressful situations.
They do their best to help provide the best treatment possible, making them a valuable asset to a vet team.
In the years to come, the number of animal care facilities is expected to rise.
And the vet team will become people of greater significance to animal health care.
So if you’re interested, here’s how you can become a vet assistant in Colorado.
Table of Contents
What a Vet Assistant Does
There are many vet workers in animal care facilities.
And among them, vet assistants are the ones upset pet owners meet upon entering the clinic.
Not only do you interact with clients and colleagues, but you also do several tasks daily.
Some of the tasks are:
- Administrative work
- Advising and talking to pet owners
- Sterilizing equipment
Education Requirements in Colorado
Becoming a veterinary assistant in Colorado is not at all difficult.
At a minimum, you only need to possess a high school diploma or GED equivalency.
It would be best, however, to get proper education and training in veterinary studies.
You can do this by enrolling in a vet assistant program in accredited schools and online courses.
Some of the schools you can consider are:
- Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology
- Community College of Denver
- Pima Medical Institute-Colorado Springs
- Pickens Technical College
You can complete it within six months up to a year, depending on the curriculum.
The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America has a certification program called the Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA).
To get certified, you must enroll in the program, complete it, and pass the AVA exam afterward.
Acquiring the certificate means you’re highly skilled and competent to work as a vet assistant.
As a result, this makes you an eligible candidate to hire by any animal care facility.
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Colorado has an increasing number of animal hospitals, thus the demand for new vet assistants is rising as well.
Currently, there are already 26 vet assistant jobs for every 1,000 Colorado residents.
So if you want to get a competitive edge over other applicants, having an AVA certification is a must.
Aside from that, the employer will also take a look at your qualifications and characteristics.
You can consider applying to these animal care facilities.
- Veterinary Centers of America Branches
- Douglas County Animal Hospital
- Aspenwood Animal Hospital
- Mountainview Animal Hospital
- Vetco Wellness Centers and Vaccination Clinics in:
- Denver Petco
- Lakewood Petco
- Colorado Springs Petco
- Boulder Petco
- Banfield Pet Hospital in:
- Arvada
- Superior
- Westminster
Potential Salary in Colorado
As of January 2022, Salary.com reported that the salary range is between $25,479 and $38,143.
And the average annual salary is $31,622.
Here’s how much you can potentially earn if you belong to a certain percentile.
| Percentile | Salary |
| 10% | $19,887 |
| 25% | $25,479 |
| 50% | $31,622 |
| 75% | $38,143 |
| 90% | $44,081 |
Your salary will vary, depending on several factors.
- Level of experience
- Working hours and workload
- Location
- Skills
For instance, regarding location.
If a place has more vet clinics than the demand, the offered annual salary may be lower than that of other places.
The table below shows how much the salary is in different places in Colorado.
Average Annual Salary by Location
| Location | Avg. Annual Salary |
|---|---|
| Denver | $31,204 |
| Colorado Springs | $30,710 |
| Aurora | $31,183 |
| Broomfield | $31,338 |
| Fort Collins | $30,038 |
| Arvada | $31,204 |
| Pueblo | $28,615 |
| Westminster | $31,204 |
| Boulder | $31,657 |
| Thornton | $31,204 |
Regional Salary in Colorado
| Region | Employed | Avg. Annual Salary | Avg. Hourly Pay | Top 10% Annual Salary | Bottom 10% Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boulder, CO | 240 | $40,510 | $19.48 | $45,560 | $31,710 |
| Colorado Springs, CO | 370 | $37,130 | $17.85 | $45,170 | $30,180 |
| Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO | 1,180 | $40,650 | $19.54 | $46,500 | $36,780 |
| Fort Collins, CO | 260 | $38,970 | $18.73 | $46,430 | $29,630 |
| Grand Junction, CO | 70 | $34,320 | $16.5 | $42,340 | $29,490 |
| Greeley, CO | 110 | $38,360 | $18.44 | $46,180 | $30,880 |
* Employment conditions in your area may vary.
Continuing Education for Vet Assistants
Being employed as a vet assistant doesn’t mean that you should stop further development in this field.
Upgrade your skill and qualifications by attending continuing education courses and seminars.
It will improve your future opportunities as an AVA or your future as a vet tech.
Many schools and organizations offer you the opportunity to advance in the veterinary field.
Doing so will make a great contribution to the quality of Colorado’s veterinary field.
- Colorado Veterinary Medical Association
- Humane Society of the South Platte Valley
- VetMedTeam
- American Veterinary Medical Association
- Humane Society Pikes Peak Region
- Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians
- Boulder Humane Society
Final Words
Vet assistants are important to a vet team due to the supporting role they play.
Not to mention the help you give to both animals and pet owners in distress with their strong hearts.
So if you want to be one, schools and online courses are available to you in Colorado.
Just don’t forget to earn your certification afterward.
Veterinary Assistant Schools by City
How to Become a Veterinary Assistant by State