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We’ll hand-match roles based on what matters to you.
We’ll hand-match roles based on what matters to you.
Vet jobs in Colorado cover busy companion animal hospitals along the Front Range, mixed and large animal work on the plains and in the mountain valleys, and a professional community anchored by Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Fort Collins. Many clients here spend a lot of time outdoors, and their animals share that lifestyle: trail dogs, ranch horses, working cattle and backcountry companions.
We place veterinarians in permanent full-time, part-time and flexible roles throughout the state, from general practice and urgent care to emergency and specialty medicine, alongside our small animal vet jobs nationwide.
Colorado has more distinct areas than any short list can cover, but these five show the range of settings, caseloads and ways of life the state offers.
Denver metro area. The Mile High City and neighboring communities such as Aurora, Lakewood and Arvada hold the state’s largest concentration of companion animal practices, from neighborhood general practices to 24-hour emergency and referral hospitals. Caseloads are varied, clients are engaged, and the foothills of the Rockies sit within easy reach for evenings and weekends.
Northern Colorado. Fort Collins, Loveland and Greeley combine growing small animal practices with equine, dairy and beef cattle work, reflecting Weld County’s standing as one of Colorado’s leading agricultural counties. Having the university’s veterinary teaching hospital nearby keeps referral medicine and continuing education close at hand, and the Poudre River and open foothills make for a relaxed pace of life.
Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region. Home to Fort Carson and the US Air Force Academy, the Springs has a large, welcoming military community and plenty of families who treat their pets as part of the household. Practices see a steady mix of wellness, surgical and urgent cases, with Garden of the Gods and Pikes Peak on the doorstep.
Western Slope and mountain communities. From Grand Junction and the orchards and vineyards around Palisade to Glenwood Springs and the resort towns of the central mountains, veterinary work here blends companion animal care with equine and ranch calls. Days off tend to involve rivers, ski slopes and canyon country.
Eastern Plains. Wide agricultural country east of the Front Range supports food animal and mixed practice centered on cattle operations and family farms. Close-knit towns give veterinarians a respected, visible place in community life and a caseload built around herd health and working animals.
Practicing in Colorado requires a license from the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine, part of the Department of Regulatory Agencies’ Division of Professions and Occupations. The state has regulated the profession since its veterinary board was created in 1907. In broad terms, applicants need a DVM or equivalent degree, a passing score on the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) and a completed application, while veterinarians already licensed in another state can apply by endorsement. Requirements change from time to time, so confirm the current details directly with the board before you plan a start date.
Veterans, service members and military spouses relocating to Colorado can find military and veteran licensing guidance from the state. Veterinarians who graduated from schools outside the US typically complete an ECFVG or PAVE certification program before sitting the NAVLE, and our support for internationally trained vets sets out how we help with a move to a US role.
Building license processing time into your relocation plan helps a move go smoothly, particularly if you are coordinating a start date with a lease, a partner’s job or a school year. Once an offer arrives, take time to understand compensation, schedule, continuing education allowances and any restrictive covenants. Our guide to having your contract reviewed explains when a legal review makes sense.
Sterling Recruiting Services is a network of independent recruiters who work with practices across Colorado and beyond. Our service is free for candidates, and you never sign an exclusivity contract, so you stay in control of where your details go and which conversations you pursue. We take the time to understand the caseload, schedule, mentorship and compensation you are looking for, then match you with practices where those fit.
You can read how working with us works, from CV support to preparing for interviews, and our practical interview tips cover how to present yourself well and how to assess a practice’s culture while you are there.
Colorado shares borders with states offering their own distinctive practice settings, and many veterinarians explore opportunities on both sides of the state line. Explore our vet jobs in New Mexico and veterinary roles in Kansas to see more of the region.
To talk through your next move in Colorado, speak with one of our recruiters today.
