A Career in Veterinary Technology

Are you interested in career working with animals?  Do you enjoy working with animals as well as people?  Do you see yourself working in a fast-paced career as a member of the veterinary health care team?  Do you enjoy science and health care related classes?  If so, a career as a veterinary technician may be right for you.

Associate of Applied Science Degree in Veterinary Technology

Colby Community College offers two ways to earn an Associate of Applied Science degree in Veterinary Technology – on-campus and online.

Which program is best for you?

The On-Campus Veterinary Technology Program

Our on-campus Veterinary Technology Program is one of the oldest in the nation.  It was established in 1969, and became fully accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in 1974.  It has maintained full accreditation since that time.  It is also the only program in Kansas fully accredited by the AVMA.

Our students learn about many advanced technologies in veterinary medicine.  Did you know that our on-campus Veterinary Technology Program was the first in the nation to train veterinary technician students on in-house adipose stem cell therapy?  Our students also receive training on digital radiology and digital dental radiology.  Our program has a full line of veterinary laboratory equipment that students use as part of their education.

The students in our on-campus Veterinary Technology Program receive hands-on training throughout the entire two year program with a variety of college owned animals including dogs, cats, cattle, horses, pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, mice, and birds.  In addition to the main 105-acre campus in Colby, the college operates a 60-acre agricultural center east of the city.  Students in the on-campus Veterinary Technology Program utilize the college farm as a hands-on laboratory for their large animal coursework.

On-campus veterinary technology program students attend classes full-time at Colby Community College and have met the selective admissions criteria.

The Distance Learning Veterinary Technology Program

The Colby Community College Distance Learning Veterinary Technology Program will begin offering classes this March.

Students in the Distance Learning Veterinary Technology Program gain hands-on experience by working with animals such as dogs, cats, horses, cattle, rabbits, rodents, and birds in veterinary hospitals.  Traditional classroom coursework for the program is completed online.

Distance learning veterinary technology program students must be computer literate, well-organized, highly motivated, have excellent time management skills, be able to meet deadlines, be capable of reading and comprehending written materials, and take responsibility for their own actions.

Starting with the second tier courses, distance learning students are required to work with veterinary hospitals to complete the hands-on skills required by the American Veterinary Medical Association.  Colby Community College is actively seeking AVMA accreditation for this new online program.

Distance learning students are required to have a computer with a web cam, a headset with a microphone, and have reliable, high speed Internet access.  Starting with the second tier of the program, students must also have a veterinary hospital in which the mentorships and veterinary clinical experiences courses can be completed.  Mentorship courses will require access to a video camcorder and tripod for use when recording hands-on AVMA essential skills.

Employment Opportunities for Veterinary Technicians

The majority of our program’s graduates work as veterinary technicians in veterinary hospitals while others are employed with humane societies, zoos, colleges and universities, pharmaceutical companies, pet food companies, research laboratories, feed yards, and dairies.