My Academic Plan
My Academic Plans (MAPs) are designed by faculty and displayed in a semester format showing the fastest path to finishing your certificate or degree. While this is the ideal, you can take courses as your schedule permits. Contact an academic advisor regarding your scheduling needs.
In most cases, the courses you need are available on your selected campus. However, there may be times to complete courses online or travel to another FRCC campus. Location availability is indicated at the time of registration.
Program Description
This program offers two educational options: a two-semester Veterinary Assistant certificate (a separate listing follows) and a two-year Veterinary Technician Associate of Applied Science degree.
The Veterinary Technician AAS degree program provides training in veterinary health and the handling of a variety of domestic and exotic animals, as well as laboratory animals encountered in a veterinary practice or biomedical research setting. While veterinary technicians serve as paraprofessional members of the veterinary medical team, veterinary technicians do not diagnose animal illnesses, prescribe treatment, or perform surgery.
The program's curriculum includes such topics as anatomy and physiology, radiology, parasitology, medical and surgical nursing, anesthesia, pharmacology, and other related scientific areas of veterinary health or related skills areas. This curriculum is not intended to provide admission to a college of veterinary medicine.
A critical component of the program is student participation in clinical internships. Between the second and third semesters, a 135-hour private practice internship is required. In the final semester, students participate in clinical rotations at the Colorado State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital. This training includes such areas as critical care, large animal medicine and surgery, small animal care, and other related areas.
Getting into the Program
Admission Requirements
To enter the program, students must meet the following admission requirements:
1. Completion of a high school diploma or GED.
2. Achievement of indicated assessment scores and completion of first semester coursework.
3. Students must receive a grade of “C” or better and a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher in first semester coursework listed below.
4. Completion of a Veterinary Technology Intent to Enroll application form available at the Larimer Campus or online at Veterinary Technology Program Application
See Admissions Process & Requirements
Admission to the program is limited to the first 24 students who have submitted the appropriate admission materials. It is strongly recommended that students complete the required general education courses prior to beginning the program. Students must be admitted to the VET program to enroll in any VET prefix courses.
What You Will Learn
Program Learning Outcomes
As a result of the completion of the Veterinary Technician 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 while 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 technical procedures in both large and small animal surrounding medical and surgical nursing, diagnostic imaging, and dentistry maintaining 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.
First Semester
Courses should be completed in the order listed below. If you are unable to complete the entire semester list, complete as many courses in this sequence as your schedule allows. You may complete the communication requirement in any semester including summer semesters. Biology coursework must be completed within the last seven years.
| BIO 111 | General College Biology I with Lab | 5 |
| ENG- GEN | English:___________ | 3 |
| MED- TRM | Medical Terminology:___________ | 1 |
| MAT- GEN | Mathematics:___________ | 3-5 |
| COM- GEN | Communication:___________ | 3 |
| CIS 109 | Management Software and Technical Applications: Veterinary Professionals | 1 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 16-18 |
Second Semester
VET 109 can be taken in addition to program requirements to help student explore different opportunities within veterinary medicine.
| VET 120 | Office Procedures and Relations | 2 |
| VET 116 | Humane Treatment and Handling of Animals | 3 |
| VET 205 | Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology I | 4 |
| VET 108 | Introduction to Laboratory Procedures | 3 |
| VET 134 | Diagnostic Imaging | 2 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 14 |
Third Semester
| VET 106 | Exotic Animal Handling | 2 |
| VET 115 | Surgical Nursing | 2 |
| VET 206 | Veterinary Anatomy and Physiology II | 4 |
| VET 224 | Pharmacology for Veterinary Technicians | 3 |
| VET 241 | Clinical Laboratory Procedures | 4 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 15 |
Fourth Semester
VET 242 can be taken in addition to program requirements to help student explore different opportunities within veterinary medicine.
Fifth Semester
| VET 250 | Clinical Competency Evaluation | 1 |
| VET 280 | Internship | 11 |
| Total Credit Hours: | 12 |