Bel-Rea Institute of Animal Technology

"DO YOUR RESEARCH BEFORE ENROLLING!! - I wish someone would have given me this advice before I decided to pursue belrea. I didn't realize that there are many other AFFORDABLE vet tech programs (for example - Community College of Denver which costs approx 12k... compared to belrea which will run you about 35k at minimum.. just for tuition) - After completed 2year course you are REQUIRED to then move on to complete an unpaid internship for 10 weeks!!! - Belrea has extremely strict internship guidelines and protocols, which includes completing MANDATORY 400 hours of UNPAID internship (I.e 10 weeks in a row /over 2 months, full time and UNPAID....) *so just expect your internship to reflect the responsibilities of a full time job.. for free... with 0 benefits.. and if you don't complete that internship, then you will be ineligible to graduate and ineligible to sit for vtne :) the list goes on and on.. but I graduated with honors in 2015.. However, moving forward I would not and have not recommended anyone enroll here... at the very least, do your research and compare other programs."

"The campus is very nice and intimate but because the instructors do not have teaching degrees the classes are often non comprehensive. They expect you to work but you have no time because of the constant studying. Some of the instructors were very demeaning and made people feel stupid for asking questions, something that should never happen in a school."

"Bel Rea has really taught me a lot. The curriculums can be challenging but the teachers are always there to help. I really enjoyed my studies at Bel Rea because faculties are friendly and they make it worth your while. It's not a walk in the park but I felt I was prepare for anything after that. Thank you so much Bel Rea."

"Very good little school, in a safe area. As a graduate I can honestly say your chances of getting a job once graduated are EXTREMELY high. More than half our graduating class already had jobs lined up BEFORE graduating. In regards to the actual schooling experience there is definitely a little of the good, the bad, and the fantastic. For the good the campus has undergone some fantastic renovations, with an extra classroom added and some cosmetic work to one of the buildings. In class there is an appropriate amount of hands on experience (the school has a wide variety of on-campus animals to work with), but this school really goes above and beyond to line up volunteer and shadowing experiences right into your hands, especially if you feel you need more practice, AND these are fantastic networking opportunities! In addition, this school offers AMAZING laboratory classes. You learn an incredible amount but I will not lie--these courses are challenging! But the experience you gain is a major factor in why so many facilities hire this school's graduates. For the bad, most of it comes down to the scale of the facility. Because it is a small campus it does allow everyone to become a tight-knit little community, but at the same time it limits staff flexibility. Because it is not a larger campus the limitations on staff also limit the scheduling times for classes. You WILL have a flexible schedule, it just won't be as flexible as you think. Mostly because the quarterly schedule makes you feel like you're moving at a breakneck pace. This isn't necessarily an issue for most students, but for students with children this can be particularly difficult to work around, especially if it is a single parent household. In addition there are some course policies that can be rather harsh, but most of this is necessary for both the school's accreditation and for the fairness to other students. If you go here you will be frustrated at least once, but I think it's a small sacrifice when you know you will have a job at the end of it all. Which is hard to say for some universities! And for the AMAZING it has to be the staff. They want you to succeed and they want you to be honest. (Seriously, they are blood-hounds for cheating--they will find you, and they will kick you out. A common saying at the school is that if you are willing to cheat to pass a test, who knows what you'll do to an animal. And this is extremely accurate.) They want you to be a good vet tech and they want to know you did it honestly. The professors give lots of opportunities to help struggling students and guidance from their personal experience. If you work hard they will be there to help.In addition the administrators are awesome too! Sometimes life throws a curveball and interrupts your studies, but the administrators do their best to help accommodate. They can help you with almost anything. Counseling, finding roommates, adjusting schedules, and in general just helping sort your life out! Ultimately, I would highly recommend this school! I have a few nitpicks here or there, and a couple of moments I remember were frustrating, but in the end I am satisfied with my education. AND the staff will be there to help if you ever need guidance navigating the job market, both before and after you graduate!"

"I am about to go into my internship, so about 6 months from graduation. I LOVE LOVE LOVE this school. The teachers only want you to succeed, and all you have to do is ask and they are happy to tutor with you! If you don't want to tutor with a teacher they have an excellent program of students who can tutor you as well. This school is not easy and if you are not prepared to bust your ass for two years don't waste your time enrolling. I have held a part time job, been dealing with probation and all the classes/ community service that goes along with it and while I have been busy it is NOT impossible. The school is challenging because they want to produce top of the line vet techs. The majority of the teachers are also bel Rea grads and I feel it makes them more sensitive to your situation as they have gone through it themselves. All the staff is very professional but also fun and they all treat you like adults!! That being said they have no patience for those who are not willing to try or take their schooling seriously. I feel like anyone who hated/ hates this school is not truly dedicated to a career as a vet tech or not willing to put in the effort to complete the program again it is not easy but totally worth it!!!!"