VPA Position Statement

Veterinary Professional Associate Position Statement
Updated March 24, 2025, originally published January 31, 2023

CACVT seeks to ensure safe implementation of the veterinary professional associate position

Although CACVT actively opposed the creation of the veterinary professional associate (VPA) role, now that it has been signed into law, our focus has shifted from opposition to active involvement in its development and rulemaking process. Our goal is to leverage our voices and expertise to ensure this role is integrated safely and appropriately into the industry while protecting and representing veterinary technicians.

Here’s how we’ve been advocating for our members:

• Participating in the rulemaking process for Proposition 129, which allows stakeholders and the public to offer comments and suggestions to the State Board of Veterinary Medicine as they create rules to guide the practice of VPAs.

• Supporting HB25-1285: Veterinary Workforce Requirements, which establishes essential safety measures and guardrails for the VPA role. Notably, this bill includes an alternative pathway for the State Board of Veterinary Medicine to credential qualified VTS candidates as VPAs, effectively allowing experienced professionals to fill this role while creating a career pathway for vet techs outside a costly academic program—one of many critical promises made during the Proposition 129 campaign that remains unfulfilled despite assurances given before it was signed into law.

• Collaborating with a joint task force consisting of CACVT/RVT/VTS representatives, CVMA veterinarians, and CSU College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences and Veterinary Teaching Hospital faculty and staff to develop rule recommendations.

• Partnering with NAVTA to build national support for our efforts, strengthening our stance and setting a precedent for other states to follow as they consider VPA or mid-level practitioner roles in the future.

CACVT continues to work to provide education and to support full implementation of Colorado’s modernized Veterinary Practice Act. RVTs and VTSs can now partner more effectively with veterinarians to improve access to care. Changes don’t happen overnight, so CACVT encourages the following actions:

1. Robustly implement the current statutory solutions in HB24-1047, which expands the scope of practice for RVTs and VTSs and includes a CE requirement for veterinarians on how to optimally utilize RVTs, VTSs, and other personnel.
2. Create advanced educational programs designed specifically to enhance the knowledge of RVTs and VTSs. (See LMU MVCC)
3. Address barriers to achieving VTS certifications.
4. Expand VTS pathways into much-needed sectors, such as shelter medicine. 
5. Increase support for RVTs pursuing a VTS, such as residency programs and financial aid.
6. Pay all RVTs and VTSs a living wage to improve retention in the profession and reflect their education and competence.

CACVT is always in favor of promoting advanced career pathways for RVTs and VTSs. We want to see the development of the VPA position done responsibly to promote a quality standard of practice that is beneficial for both Colorado’s animals and veterinary technicians seeking to work in this newly created role.