BY STEVEN L MAY, CERTIFIED VETERINARY JOURNALIST
There are 243 designated shortage areas across 46 states (NIFA, 2025), millions of animals lack access to timely healthcare Shelters operate without adequate veterinary staffing, rural communities go underserved, and pet owners face weeks-long waits for basic appointments The solution is clear: the Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) a master’s-level practitioner whose time has definitively arrived
The VPA Job Role: Bridging the Critical Gap
The Veterinary Professional Associate represents a carefully designed mid-level practitioner position that expends and augments the provider care of licensed veterinarians Modeled after the remarkably successful Physician Assistant role in human medicine, it is proposed that VPAs work under veterinary supervision to diagnose and treat common illnesses, perform routine surgeries, perform routine dental procedures, interpret diagnostic tests, and lead healthcare teams (CVPA, 2024) This collaborative model dramatically increases practice efficiency while expanding access to care for underserved populations
On May 30, 2025, Colorado Governor Jared Polis signed HB25-1285 into law, officially establishing the VPA profession (MyVetCandy, 2025) “Veterinary professional associates will fill a critical care gap for rural communities in Colorado,” Governor Polis stated. “Creating more pathways for students to gain the skills necessary to support veterinary medicine is essential to enhancing overall animal health and welfare” (Colorado State University, 2025a) This landmark legislation takes effect January 1, 2026, setting a precedent other states are expected to follow
Lincoln Memorial University: Pioneering Excellence in MVCC Education
Lincoln Memorial University’s Richard A Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine launched their Master of Veterinary Clinical Care (MVCC) program in August 2022, establishing the new standard for VPA education (LMU, 2021) This pioneering 30-credit graduate program represents deep, specialized learning designed specifically for credentialed veterinary technicians seeking to elevate their expertise to the master’s level The program will be revised in 2026 to add more surgical training and additional courses that will be taken side by side with veterinary students Visit: https://www lmunet edu/college-of-veterinary cal-care/
“The MVCC is designed to provide additional training to veterinary technicians, creating a much-needed career ladder for a profession that has an extremely high burnout rate.”
Stacy
Anderson, DVM, MVSc, PhD, DACVS-LA, Executive Dean at Lincoln Memorial University
The LMU-MVCC curriculum was developed in partnership with an Advisory Board comprising specialist technicians, veterinary technician leaders, educators, veterinarians, and industry professionals through the Veterinary Innovation Council (LMU, 2023) This collaborative approach ensures the highest standards of educational quality and professional relevance Courses are co-instructed by experienced Doctors of Veterinary Medicine providing students with advanced instruction in clinical reasoning, critical thinking, and evidence-based medicine (LMU Graduate Catalog, 2024)
The program offers multiple study tracks small animal health, large animal health, practice management, and research with a One Health emphasis allowing students to customize their education to their career goals (LMU, 2021) Graduates emerge with master-level expertise in patient case management, clinical and professional skills, and evidence-based practice
Colorado State University: Building on 117 Years of Veterinary Excellence
Colorado State University’s Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Care (MSB VCC) program, approved by the CSU Board of Governors in February 2025, represents more than a decade of thoughtful development by one of America’s top-ranked veterinary colleges (Colorado State University, 2025a) The program curriculum was developed using the same course objectives, delivery of material, and assessment standards as CSU’s acclaimed Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, ensuring graduates receive rigorous, comprehensive training (CSU College of Veterinary Medicine, 2025)
Visit: https://vetmedbiosci colostate edu/degree-programs/graduate/master-of-science-in-veterinary-clinical-care/
“CSU’s MSB VCC program will ensure VPAs are competent in the management of routine conditions in dogs and cats. In addition to education and training in the performance of basic medical and surgical skills, CSU’s program will also emphasize competencies in client communications.”
Wayne Jensen, DVM, PhD, MBA, Professor, Department of Clinical Sciences at Colorado State University
The CSU program comprises 65 credit hours across five semesters, combining online coursework with intensive hands-on laboratory training and a clinical internship with veterinary community partners (Vet-Advantage, 2025) Students gain advanced medical training with an emphasis on common infectious and physiological diseases of dogs and cats, mastering technical skills at the university’s $230 million Veterinary Health and Education Complex (CSU College of Veterinary Medicine, 2025) The curriculum covers essential clinical skills including identifying abnormal findings on physical examinations and diagnostic tests, diagnosing and treating routine medical and surgical conditions, and integrating principles of communication, teamwork, and professionalism
Before entering the program, students must hold a bachelor’s degree and complete prerequisite courses in mathematics, biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, genetics, and organic chemistry (Colorado State University, 2025a) This substantial foundation ensures students possess the scientific knowledge necessary for advanced clinical education The curriculum underwent a rigorous 17-step review process before approval, reflecting CSU’s commitment to educational excellence (Colorado State University, 2025b)
Innovative Education for a Demanding Profession
Both the LMU-MVCC and CSU-MVCC programs emphasize the specialized education essential for competent VPA practice Graduates develop advanced knowledge in pathophysiology, patient presentation, differential diagnosis, patient management, surgical principles, health promotion, and disease prevention (CVPA, 2024) They learn to recognize abnormalities in diagnostic imaging, apply scientific principles across all aspects of patient treatment, identify underlying pathologic processes, and implement evidence-based veterinary medicine protocols
The Coalition for the Veterinary Professional Associate (CVPA), comprising over 43 expert veterinary professionals nationwide, is working with established veterinary certification/testing organizations to establish a national credentialing examination equivalent in rigor to existing veterinary professional examinations (dvm360, 2024) The CVPA is working with a highly reputable accrediting body to provide standardized, competency-based curriculums for VPA education across the profession
Economic Impact: The Business Case for VPAs
Beyond addressing workforce shortages, VPA integration delivers substantial financial benefits to veterinary practices A comprehensive economic study published in the Journal of Applied Business and Economics examined the impact of adding one full-time VPA to a general companion animal practice with 3 5 veterinarians (Smith, Lloyd, & Harris, 2025) Using a partial budget model informed by over 40 interviews with industry leaders and practice owners, researchers projected significant gains: an annual revenue increase of $566,500 and a net profit increase of $177,850 These results stem from optimizing labor allocation shifting routine tasks such as rechecks, preventive care, and simple urgent care to the VPA while enabling veterinarians to focus on higher-value activities including new patient consultations, complex cases, and surgical procedures
The study also found that VPA integration dramatically expands access to care, with annual appointments increasing from 5,000 to 8,700 a 74% increase in practice capacity Veterinarian compensation was projected to rise by $62,050 due to increased practice productivity These findings align with decades of research in human medicine demonstrating that mid-level practitioners enhance both financial performance and patient care outcomes (Smith, Lloyd, & Harris, 2025)
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A Career of Impact and Purpose
The VPA job role offers meaningful career advancement for veterinary professionals passionate about expanding their impact With overwhelming interest CSU received more than numerous inquiries from prospective students before active promotion (Vet-Advantage, 2025) demand for this educational pathway is clear The programs at LMU and CSU prepare graduates to work in companion animal hospitals, urgent care facilities, shelter medicine, and other veterinary healthcare domains where they can make an immediate difference in addressing the access-tocare crisis
The time for the Veterinary Professional Associate has arrived Through the innovative education and high-quality learning provided by the MVCC programs at Lincoln Memorial University and Colorado State University, a new generation of veterinary professionals is being prepared to transform animal healthcare delivery across America For animals, families, and communities underserved by the current system, the VPA represents not just a new job role but a new hope
Lincoln Memorial University-Orange Park
Extending LMU’s MVCC Model to Florida Lincoln Memorial University-College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park launched their Master of Veterinary Clinical Care (MVCC) program in 2025, modeled after the LMU-Richard A Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine This program is poised to meet the animal and public health demands of the rapidly growing state of Florida
“TheMasterofVeterinaryClinicalCareprogramatLMU–OPCVMisdesignedtostrengthenveterinaryteamswhile providingameaningfulcareerpathwayforexperienced veterinarytechnicianstoexpandtheirimpact Asstates explorenewworkforceframeworks,advancedclinical trainingatthemaster’slevelpositionstheprofession tobetterserveveterinarians,petowners,andthe communitiesthatrelyonthem.”
Stacy Anderson, DVM, MVSc, PhD, DACVS-LA, Executive Dean at Lincoln Memorial University
The MVCC at OPCVM is hybrid, combining online and in-person learning for credentialed veterinary technicians seeking master’s-level training Designed to deepen clinical knowledge, professional skills, and evidence-based decision-making, the program supports career advancement within veterinary healthcare teams Beginning in 2026, planned curricular enhancements will expand surgical training and incorporate select shared coursework alongside veterinary students, further strengthening clinical preparation The program will initially offer a study track in small animal with additional tracks to be developed soon to meet pressing needs in veterinary care Graduates complete the program with advanced competencies in patient case management, clinical and professional practice, and collaborative care delivery
Visit: https://www lmunet edu/orange-park-college-of-veterinary-medicine/master-of-veterinary-clinical-care/
Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) is a values-based learning community dedicated to providing educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies The LMU-Richard A Gillespie College of Veterinary Medicine is located on LMU’s main campus in Harrogate, Tennessee, with additional academic facilities in nearby Lee County, Virginia LMU-CVM is an integral part of the University’s medical programs and provides real-world, communitybased education in a collaborative learning environment For more information about LMU-CVM, call 1 800 325 0900, ext 7150 or visit us online at vetmed LMUnet edu
Lincoln Memorial University (LMU) is a values-based learning community with its main campus located in Harrogate, Tennessee The LMU-College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park (LMU-OPCVM), located in Orange Park, Florida, extends LMU’s mission to provide educational experiences in the liberal arts and professional studies as part of LMU’s growing network of medical and health sciences programs LMU-OPCVM is committed to providing realworld, community-based veterinary education in a collaborative learning environment LMU-OPCVM has received the Letter of Reasonable Assurance from the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education (AVMA-COE), a pre-accreditation step allowing students to be accepted For more information, visit OPVetMed lmunet edu or call 1 800 325 0900
References
American Association of Veterinary State Boards (2025, October 24) Veterinary Professional Associate FAQ https://www aavsb org/news/vpa-faq/
Coalition for the Veterinary Professional Associate (2024) The VPA supports veterinarians and the animal healthcare team https://www cvpa vet/
Colorado State University (2025a, February 7) CSU board approves veterinary professional associates curriculum https://cvmbs source colostate edu/board-approves-curriculum-veterinary-professional-associates/
Colorado State University (2025b) Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Care College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences https://vetmedbiosci colostate edu/degree-programs/graduate/master-of-science-in-veterinaryclinical-care/
CSU College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (2025) About the veterinary professional associate (VPA) https://vetmedbiosci colostate edu/vpa/
dvm360 (2024, December) Initiative to establish veterinary professional associates will appear on Colorado ballot https://www dvm360 com/view/initiative-to-establish-veterinary-professional-associates-will-appear-on-coloradoballot
Lincoln Memorial University (2021, December) LMU-CVM announces Master of Veterinary Clinical Care degree https://www lmunet edu/news/2021/12/cvmmvccdegree
Lincoln Memorial University (2023, October) Tolson leading LMU-CVM Master of Veterinary Clinical Care program https://www lmunet edu/news/2023/10/TolsonMVCCDirector
