Explore our comprehensive guide to the best veterinary schools in Colorado in 2023. Discover the top-rated institutions for veterinary education and training, and pursue your passion for animal care at the best veterinary schools in Colorado. Get ready to embark on a rewarding career in veterinary medicine!
Regarding higher education, there are many options for the best veterinary schools in Colorado. Even online education opportunities continue to grow; you are no longer limited to schools in your area.
Even some of the popular schools offer online courses. In addition, there are several trade schools with offers that may seem attractive to you.
Table of Contents
How Competitive are Veterinary Schools in Colorado?
There are only 32 veterinary schools in the United States, meaning some states do not even offer a degree in veterinary medicine. However, there are also great Veterinary Schools In California.
Each school has a certain number of students who can be admitted to the program. This means you are not competing with other novice veterinarians in your state.
You also compete with outsiders, students, who may have an advantage in education in front of you. You’ve probably heard horror stories about novice veterinarians who were turned down because of their assessments.
Veterinary medicine covers a vast knowledge of mathematics and science, so you should get high marks in these areas.
ALSO CHECK: Best Veterinary Schools In Texas
What is the Requirement for Veterinary Schools in Colorado?
Colorado veterinary schools typically require entrants to submit their official high school transcripts confirming certain coursework (eg, biology, chemistry, algebra, English).
Also submit test scores with SAT, ACT or TOEFL (for non-native English speakers); show proof of immunization and health insurance; pass an inspection of cases; write a personal statement; and pay the application fee.
Some of the more competitive programs also require an interview with a candidate or experience in the veterinary service as a volunteer or trainee. There are currently eight CVTEA-accredited programs in Colorado.
How Much is Colorado State Vet School?
This amount is calculated on the assumption that you are enrolled in a full form of education. 15 credit hours are used for undergraduate students and 9 for graduate students.
Your actual costs may vary. Tuition and fees are provided for financial assistance and may be changed until the CSU Board of Governors approves.
For students who have recently attended a veterinary school in the United States, the estimated total cost of attendance (tuition + fee + average living expenses) for four years ranges from $150,000 to $ 420,000.
Your cost will depend on your residence or choice to pursue a private veterinary school.
ALSO CHECK: Best Veterinary Schools In Texas
Can You Become a Vet Without Going to College?
To become a veterinarian, you need to attend university and earn a veterinary medicine degree. The course usually lasts 5 years. To get a place in veterinary school, you must have the strong scientific experience.
It is important that you enjoy and are good at subjects such as biology, chemistry, and physics. You are generally expected to receive 9-6 grades in these subjects at the GCSE.
When obtaining an A level, all veterinary schools will require you to choose biology and get an A / A grade in that subject.
As a rule, most veterinary schools prefer additional scientific subjects, such as chemistry and physics, or subjects, such as mathematics. Some universities may accept a third-level A in a subject that is not natural.
ALSO CHECK: 10 Best Trade Schools in Colorado
What are the Best Veterinary Schools in Colorado?
Below are the best vet schools in Colorado
- Apex College of Veterinary Technology
- Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology
- Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology
- Colorado Mountain College
- Community College of Denver
- Front Range Community College
- Pima Medical Institute
- Pickens Technical College
- Colorado State University – Fort Collins
#1 Apex College of Veterinary Technology
Apex Veterinary College of Technology in Colorado Springs received AVMA initial accreditation in 2019 and is offering a two-year Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in veterinary technology.
Graduates of the Apex technical program will gain the entry-level skills needed to support veterinarians in treating companion animals, horses, food, and laboratory animal populations.
In addition, veterinarians graduating from Apex will gain several business skills and be required to undergo an internship at the program’s culmination.
Coursework on the quarterly program 115.75 includes clinical parasitology and microbiology, care for large animals, medical and surgical care, and dentistry.
National Veterinary Technician Examinations (VTNEs) are not yet available for this program.
#2 Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology
Bel Rea Institute of Animal Technology in Denver offers a 24-month Applied Law (AAS) degree in veterinary technology with 125 credits.
Through veterinary chemistry, technical literature, and anesthesiology classes, Bel-Rea prepares its graduates to work with animals, assist in surgery, and perform routine laboratory and diagnostic procedures.
Students can start the program four times a year. In the last quarter of the program, students undergo local internships to supplement their didactic coursework with practical experience.
From 2017 to 2020, 79.2% of graduates of this program passed the VTNE on the first try.
#3 Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology
The Colorado Academy of Veterinary Technology in Colorado Springs also provides a CVTEA-accredited Diploma of Applied Science (AAS) in Veterinary Technology.
The program can be completed in two years. Courses include medical mathematics; biochemistry; acquaintance with veterinary technology and animal behavior; parasitology; pharmacology; and diagnostic imaging; among others.
The Colorado Academy prides itself on small class sizes, an experienced faculty of veterinary professionals, and hands-on education.
Between 2017 and 2020, Colorado Academy graduates achieved a 76.5 percent VTNE pass for the first time.
#4 Colorado Mountain College
Another option for veterinary technology is the Colorado Mountain College in beautiful Glenwood Springs.
This AAS program includes coursework in clinical pathology, microbiology, animal treatment and maintenance, and the management of veterinary clinics.
In addition, the school has a magnificent 220-acre campus in the Elk Mountains with a 2,600-square-foot veterinary hospital, state-of-the-art equipment, and various animals.
This school also has the only certificate to manage an animal shelter in the country. A very rare achievement, 100 percent of graduates of this program passed the VTNE on the first attempt between 2017 and 2020.
#5 Community College of Denver
Community college of Denver offers a degree in applied science (AAS) in veterinary technology. Veterinary courses are held at the Lowry Campus in East Denver.
Students can choose between a two-year, three-year, and study program. Internships for two and three years last 15 weeks in four veterinary hospitals/institutions and are supervised by veterinarians and veterinary technologists.
Courses include the treatment of exotic animals; acquaintance with laboratory procedures; application to understand animal behavior; veterinary care, surgical and nursing care; and more.
This program offers 27 percent of its coursework online. In the curriculum, students work with an employer to learn the craft.
The result of this program is a diploma and certificate from the US Department of Labor and requires 21 months of continuous participation when the employer determines breaks.
#6 Front Range Community College
Front Range Community College-Larimer Campus (FRCC) offers AAS in veterinary technology with classes such as radiology, physiology, medical and surgical care and treatment of exotic animals.
This 71-credit program takes five semesters (two years). Students learn to work with pets, exotics, birds, and laboratory and food animals.
Students complete 135 hours of private practice between the second and third semesters and complete clinical rotations at the University of Colorado. Between 2017 and 2020, 82.9 percent of all first-timers passed the VTNE.
#7 Pima Medical Institute
Pima Medical Institute offers a veterinary specialist program in Aurora, Colorado Springs, Colorado, and elsewhere in the United States.
An associate degree can be obtained in 18 months, and the first set of courses is taught through a blended program that combines online and on-campus learning.3
Courses include basics of biology and chemistry; diagnostic imaging for veterinary technicians; laboratory zoology; anatomy and physiology for veterinary technicians; methods of dentistry; and more.
Between 2017 and 2020, the success rate at the Aurora VTNE campus was 56 percent, and at the Colorado Springs campus was 84.5 percent.
What are the Best Veterinary Colleges in Denver, Colorado?
#8 Pickens Technical College
Upon completing the Veterinary Assistant program, Pickens Technical College will award you two certificates – the Certificate of Assistant for the Care of Small Animals and the Certificate of Veterinary Assistant.
You will receive instruction in animal welfare, office administration, animal health and nutrition, animal welfare, and more during enrollment.
At the end of the first semester of 12 credits, you will receive a certificate of assistance for caring for small animals. Your second semester consists of 23 credits and courses such as medical terminology, animal ethics, and the treatment of exotic pets.
#9 Front Range Community College
The Front Range Community College Veterinary Technology program admits only 24 students each semester.
Although completing the program is not intended for admission to the College of Veterinary Medicine, you will learn about anesthesia, parasitology, surgical nursing, animal nutrition, clinical laboratory procedures, and pharmacology.
The program also includes a clinical internship. You will participate in clinical rotations in the pedagogical hospital during the last year.
#10 Colorado State University – Fort Collins
The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program at the University of Colorado typically admits approximately 138 students per year. Your first two years will be spent on campus, and your last two will be in clinical rotation at a pedagogical hospital.
Suppose you are interested in further study in a particular field of veterinary medicine after graduation. In that case, the program offers a three-year residency in several specialties, such as animal surgery, veterinary oncology, cardiology, and resuscitation.
Professional veterinarians can also enroll in refresher courses at the university. The school also offers a combined D.V.M./Ph.D. program that can be completed in seven years.
Conclusion
In addition to a broad education in animal husbandry, veterinary students can specialize in small animal surgery, environmental toxicology, and aquatic medicine. These are the best schools of veterinary medicine.
The DVM program at the University of Colorado Veterinary School is a four-year program. The first two years end on the primary campus. These first two years consist of general education in veterinary and biomedical sciences, supplemented by practical and clinical practice.
The second half of the DVM program involves participating in a training hospital through clinical rotation. As part of the experience, students evaluate patients, meet with clients, develop treatment plans and provide practical assistance under the guidance of faculty veterinarians.
Veterinary Schools in Colorado FAQs
Is It Difficult To Get To Veterinary School in Colorado?
It isn’t easy to get into a veterinary school because there are few veterinary schools in the United States. Some states do not even have veterinary schools, which can make it difficult to enter schools in states where they do not live.
Although veterinary schools are more likely to accept students from the state, you should not allow this to prevent you from applying, as you deserve the opportunity to realize your dream. Work hard on your lessons and extracurricular activities to help you stand out.
Do You Need Any Certificates Or Licenses To Become A Vet In Colorado?
Veterinarians throughout the United States must be licensed to practice legally. You can only get a veterinary license after completing an accredited DVM program, and you will also need to pass a certification exam. Various organizations offer certification exams for novice veterinarians, but the North American Veterinary Licensing Review (NAVLE) is considered the best exam for easy certification.
2 comments
Comments are closed.