Program readies to meet job growth predicted in Colorado
By Mike McKibbin
SPRING VALLEY – When you go to the dentist these days, a hygienist does most of the cleaning and other basic care of your teeth.
It’s pretty much the same when you take your pet to the veterinarian. The people who do most of the basic work on your dog or cat may have received their education through Colorado Mountain College’s veterinary technology program at the Spring Valley Center, outside Glenwood Springs.
Vet techs are responsible for all facets of veterinary medicine except diagnosis, prescription and surgery, said program director Dr. Jeff Myers.
Area veterinarians hire many vet tech graduates, Myers said. Since the college’s program began in 1970, more than 95 percent of its graduates have had careers in animal health or a closely related field.
That trend should continue between now and 2018, as employment of veterinary technologists and technicians is projected to grow four times faster than any other occupation in Colorado, according to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.
A state-of-the-art surgical lab at Colorado Mountain College's veterinary technology program at Spring Valley is one of the key attractions for students. More than 95 percent of the program's graduates have gone on to careers in animal health or closely related fields. Employment of vet techs is projected to grow at one of the fastest rates in Colorado over the next decade.
According to the labor department’s forecast, this job growth is caused by increased demand for services from more affluent pet owners who are willing to pay for advanced veterinary care, since many consider their pet to be part of the family.
“It’s gone from just one vet tech for each veterinarian, to two or even three,” Myers said of the growth in the field.
Vet tech jobs should also be relatively stable during periods of economic recession, the labor department predicts. Layoffs should be less likely to occur because animals will continue to require medical care.
Labor department numbers show 2,626 vet techs employed in Colorado in 2008. That number could reach 3,310 by 2018. The department expects vet tech job openings in Colorado to be around 1,500 a year through 2018.
Career ideal for those who love animals
Heidi Vosbeck is a 2001 Colorado Mountain College vet tech graduate and worked at the All Dogs and Cats veterinary hospital in Glenwood Springs from 2000 through September of last year. She now works at Colorado Animal Rescue, or CARE. The animal shelter is adjacent to the college’s Spring Valley Center and vet tech program, and the program and shelter share many functions.
Vosbeck was a schoolteacher, but realized she needed a career change.
“I’d always had a love for animals, so I Googled vet tech programs and there was CMC,” she said. “Once I saw Glenwood Springs, I was in love and knew there was no choice, I had to go here.”
Classes are set on a 220-acre vet school farm at Spring Valley, complete with a 12-stall equine teaching barn, modern livestock handling facility, small animal hospitals with kennel and treatment areas, a surgical suite and dental, x-ray and laboratory areas.
Karin Sears is a second-year CMC vet tech student and sometimes works at the Glenwood Veterinary Clinic. She enrolled last year to pursue a career change. Sears had worked as a child support officer in northern California and then in the San Diego area.
“I always wanted to work with animals, especially large animals,” Sears said. “So I found Spring Valley and fell in love with it. I’m so glad I did it.”
Sears praised the program instructors and said the “intense” course work surprised her. The associate degree includes training in animal anatomy, physiology, radiography, clinical hematology, parasitology, urinalysis, microbiology, medical and surgical nursing and clinical management.
“And you get to know the students, too, as a kind of extended family,” Sears said. “It’s a great school and a great program. I’m definitely happy I made the change.”
Faculty set high expectations for students
Vosbeck said vet tech instructors care about their students. “They expected big things from us and wouldn’t just let us slide by. I’m glad they had such high standards, because in real life, you have to do all the things they had us do,” she said.
“It’s not just playing with kittens and dogs,” she added.
Students must pass the Veterinary Technician National Exam to get their credentials. Myers said all 17 of the program’s May 2009 graduates passed the exam, compared to a nationwide pass rate of 75 percent. The average score for a CMC student was 592 out of 800, he said, compared to the national average of 506.
