Why the Veterinary Professional Associate Position is Desperately Needed in Today's Veterinary World

THE

TRUTH About VPAs

Why the Veterinary Professional Associate Position is Desperately Needed in Today's Veterinary World

FRESH FASHION

The Veterinary Professional Associate: Colorado's Pioneering Approach to Addressing Veterinary Workforce Challenges

By Steven L May, Executive Director • Coalition For The Veterinary Professional Associates

The veterinary profession faces significant workforce shortages that threaten access to animal healthcare services, particularly in rural and underserved communities. In November 2024, Colorado voters approved Proposition 129, creating the nation's first Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) position—a para-professional practitioner role, similar to Physician Assistants in human medicine, that bridges the gap between veterinary technicians and licensed veterinarians. This landmark legislation represents a paradigm shift in veterinary care delivery and offers a potential model for addressing nationwide workforce challenges. This article examines the development, implementation, and professional implications of the VPA role within the context of contemporary veterinary workforce dynamics.

Introduction The American veterinary healthcare system confronts unprecedented demand for services coupled with insufficient practitioner availability to meet growing needs. Pet ownership has increased substantially, with approximately 71% of American households now owning pets compared to 56% in 1988.(1) Simultaneously, the complexity and sophistication of veterinary medical services have expanded dramatically, placing additional pressure on an already strained workforce. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has identified 237 rural areas across 47 states experiencing critical veterinary shortages.(2) This crisis has particularly severe implications for rural communities, where access to veterinary care has become increasingly limited, and for animal welfare organizations that rely on veterinary services to fulfill their missions.

The Scope of Veterinary Workforce Challenges Geographic and Sector-Specific Shortages According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), veterinary workforce shortages are not uniformly distributed but are particularly acute in specific geographic regions and practice sectors. Dr. Lori Teller, AVMA past-president, noted in a July 2023 presentation that "there are shortages in rural America and in certain segments of veterinary medicine, such as food animal, equine, academia, shelters, emergency practices, specialties, and public health."(3) The shortage extends beyond rural large animal practice to companion animal care in underserved areas. Industry projections indicate that nearly 55,000 additional veterinarians will be needed to meet companion animal healthcare demands by 2030, with an anticipated shortage of 24,000 veterinarians even after accounting for new graduates over the next decade.(4) The shortage is especially pronounced in large animal and mixed practice settings, where according to recent federal data, only about 3.4% of the total U.S. veterinary workforce were employed in food animal practice in 2024, and approximately 50% of rural veterinarians are within five years of retirement.(5) Educational Pipeline Constraints North American veterinary schools graduate approximately 4,000 new veterinarians annually, a number insufficient to address growing demand and replace retiring practitioners.(6) The traditional veterinary education pathway typically requires eight years of post-secondary education, creating a substantial bottleneck that cannot be rapidly addressed through conventional means. Furthermore, the high cost of veterinary education, with graduates averaging $154,451 in educational debt, creates additional barriers to practice in rural and shelter medicine positions.(7)

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Critical Access-to-Care Crisis for Underserved Communities The veterinary workforce shortage has created an access-to-care crisis that disproportionately affects society's most vulnerable populations. Research conducted by the Access to Veterinary Care Coalition revealed that in the past two years, approximately 28% of pet-owning households experience barriers to veterinary care, with financial constraints serving as the overwhelming barrier for all groups of pet owners—affecting 80% seeking preventive care, 74% seeking sick care, and 56% seeking emergency care.(8) The human impact extends far beyond statistics. An estimated 29 million dogs and cats live in families participating in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, representing millions of bonded relationships at risk.(9) These families, often comprising essential workers such as teachers, healthcare providers, sanitation workers, and service industry employees, face impossible choices between their own financial survival and their pets' medical needs. Research indicates that 42% of pet owners cannot cover unexpected veterinary bills of $999 or less, creating a devastating gap between the human-animal bond and healthcare accessibility.(10) Impact on Animal Welfare Organizations Recent research by Petco Love documented the severe impact of veterinary workforce shortages on animal shelters and nonprofit veterinary clinics nationwide. The study found that these organizations face vacancy rates exceeding 30% for veterinary positions, resulting in delayed medical care for vulnerable animals.(11) In California alone, unfilled veterinary positions in shelters resulted in 344,000 animals going without adequate care, while nationally, an estimated 2.7 million spay/neuter surgeries remain unperformed due to staffing shortages.(12) The implications for animal welfare are dire. As one study respondent noted, "We are completely desperate for a solution, and we need it now. Shelters are being forced into the role of providing accessible and affordable care because of this shortage… Something has to give because we are failing the people and the animals in our community."(13) The Colorado Veterinary Professional Associate Initiative Legislative Background and Approval Colorado Proposition 129, officially titled the "Veterinary Professional Associate Initiative," was placed on the November 2024 ballot through a citizen-initiated process. The measure received approval with 52.3% of voters supporting the initiative, making Colorado the first state to authorize VPA positions through legislative action.(14) The initiative was supported by a coalition including the Dumb Friends League (now Humane Colorado), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and various animal welfare organizations under the umbrella of "All Pets Deserve Vet Care."

Opposition to the measure was led by the "Keep Our Pets Safe" campaign, with the majority of funding, approximately $2.45 million, coming from the American Veterinary Medical Association.(15) Critics have questioned whether the $2.45 million in AVMA opposition funding could have been more effectively allocated toward addressing access-to-care issues for underserved pet owners, shelter medicine programs, working with states that still do not have licensure for veterinary technicians, and rural veterinarian shortage solutions.

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Regulatory Framework and Implementation Proposition 129 established the basic regulatory framework for VPA practice while delegating specific implementation details to the Colorado Board of Veterinary Medicine and the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). The legislation mandates that VPAs: Hold a master's degree in veterinary clinical care Pass a credentialing examination administered by a nationally recognized organization Practice exclusively under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian Obtain state registration and maintain continuing education requirements The Colorado Board of Veterinary Medicine is responsible for establishing specific scope of practice parameters, supervision requirements, and disciplinary procedures for VPAs.(16)

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Educational Program Development Colorado State University's Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Care Colorado State University (CSU) has developed the Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Care (MSVCC) program to train future VPAs. The curriculum underwent a comprehensive 17-step review process involving CSU faculty, community stakeholders, and external academic institutions before receiving approval from the university's Board of Governors in February 2025.(17) The program requires 65 credit hours completed over five semesters, with specific educational components including: Semesters 1-3: Online coursework covering fundamental veterinary sciences, common diseases of dogs and cats, communication skills, and professional development Semester 4: Intensive hands-on laboratory training totaling 416 contact hours, focusing on clinical procedures and technical skills Semester 5: Clinical internship comprising 540 hours of veterinarian-supervised practice in veterinary clinics This structure provides nearly 1,000 hours of hands-on clinical experience, contradicting claims that the program offers "minimal" practical training.(18) Admission Requirements and Student Profile Students entering the MSVCC program must possess a bachelor's degree and complete prerequisite coursework in mathematics, biology, chemistry, anatomy, physiology, microbiology, and physics— totaling approximately 39-41 credit hours. CSU anticipates enrolling 20-30 students in the inaugural class beginning in January 2026, with graduation planned for 2027.(19) The program is designed to serve multiple student populations, including veterinary technicians seeking career advancement, qualified applicants not accepted to veterinary school, and internationally trained veterinarians pursuing U.S. practice opportunities.

Curriculum Comparison and Educational Rigor CSU officials emphasize that the MSVCC curriculum represents a subset of the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) curriculum, with some components delivered in their entirety. For example, preclinical surgical training in the MSVCC program comprises 108 contact hours compared to 105 hours in the DVM small animal track. Similarly, pre-clinical dentistry training exceeds DVM requirements with 60 contact hours versus 21 hours respectively.(20)

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Professional and Regulatory Considerations Scope of Practice Limitations VPAs would be authorized to perform specific veterinary medical procedures under veterinary supervision, including: Physical examinations and routine diagnostic procedures Interpretation of basic diagnostic tests Development of treatment plans including prescribing, with supervising veterinarian approval, of medications Performance of routine surgical procedures, including spay/neuter operations Client communication and education Federal law currently prohibits VPAs from independently prescribing some medications, as this authority is restricted to licensed veterinarians and requires Federal action to modify.(21) Additionally, initial VPA practice in Colorado would be limited to canine and feline patients, with large animal training planned in subsequent CSU program iterations.

Supervision Requirements and Liability Considerations The exact nature and extent of veterinary supervision required for VPA practice remains under development by the Colorado Board of Veterinary Medicine. Current statute mandates supervision by a licensed veterinarian but does not specify whether this requires physical presence or allows for remote oversight. This regulatory ambiguity represents a significant implementation challenge that will likely influence the practical effectiveness of the VPA model.

Supervising veterinarians maintain ultimate professional and legal responsibility for patient care provided by VPAs, potentially creating increased liability exposure for practice owners. This consideration has generated concern among practicing veterinarians regarding the risk-benefit ratio of employing VPAs. However, resources directly providing VPA liability insurance are currently being developed.

Professional Opposition and Concerns The American Veterinary Medical Association has consistently opposed VPA implementation, arguing that the educational preparation is insufficient for the proposed scope of practice. Dr. Robert Knapp, AVMA Board of Directors chair, stated that graduates could "pose substantive risks for the health and welfare of animal patients" due to inadequate hands-on training and compressed educational timelines.(22) Specific concerns raised by veterinary professionals include: Insufficient foundational knowledge in anatomy, physiology, and pathology Limited clinical exposure before assuming independent responsibilities Potential for missed diagnoses and surgical complications Unclear supervision protocols and liability distribution Lack of evidence supporting cost reduction claims

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Potential Benefits and Transformative Opportunities Proponents argue that VPAs represent a transformative solution that could fundamentally address the access-to-care crisis facing millions of pet-owning families. The potential benefits extend far beyond simple workforce expansion: Revolutionary Access Expansion: VPAs could dramatically increase service availability in underserved areas where recruiting veterinarians has proven impossible. Colorado Governor Jared Polis emphasized that "Veterinary professional associates will fill a critical care gap for rural communities in Colorado. Creating more pathways for students in Colorado to gain the skills necessary to support veterinary medicine is essential to enhancing overall animal health and welfare across Colorado."(23) Life-Saving Capacity Enhancement: By handling routine procedures and examinations, VPAs would allow veterinary practices to see significantly more patients while enabling veterinarians to focus on complex cases requiring advanced training. This redistribution could potentially save thousands of animals currently turned away due to capacity constraints. A CSU survey found that 71% of veterinary professionals had to turn away clients at least weekly due to capacity limitations.(24) Economic Justice and Affordability: The economic advantages of VPAs could make veterinary care accessible to families currently priced out of the market. The shorter educational pathway and anticipated lower salaries for VPAs could reduce practice operational costs, potentially lowering service fees for clients. For families where routine care for common medical conditions represents an impossible financial burden, VPA services could mean the difference between treatment and euthanasia.(25) Preservation of the Human-Animal Bond: Perhaps most importantly, VPAs could help preserve the crucial relationships between vulnerable families and their animal companions. For the millions of households participating in government assistance programs, for essential workers earning modest wages, and for seniors on fixed incomes, VPAs represent hope that financial limitations need not sever the bonds that provide emotional support, companionship, and mental health benefits.

Career Pathway Diversification and Retention: VPAs offer a meaningful career advancement opportunity for veterinary technicians, who currently stay in the field an average of only seven years due to low salaries and limited career growth prospects. This new pathway could retain experienced professionals while attracting qualified individuals not accepted to veterinary school and internationally trained veterinarians seeking U.S. practice opportunities.(26) Implementation Timeline and Future Outlook Regulatory Development Phase Following Proposition 129's approval, the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies initiated rulemaking processes to establish specific VPA practice parameters. This regulatory development phase is expected to continue through 2025, with final rules governing VPA practice anticipated before the first graduates enter the workforce in 2027.

In March 2025, in a Colorado legislation session lawmakers passed the "Veterinary Workforce Requirement" bill, which established restrictions on the number of VPAs that a DVM could supervise and that supervision levels are to be based on experience, among other things.

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Program Launch and Evaluation CSU's MSVCC program expects to matriculate its first cohort in January 2026, with graduation scheduled for Fall 2027. This timeline provides approximately three years for regulatory framework development and public education about the VPA role before practitioners enter the workforce.

The initial program implementation will serve as a critical test case for the VPA concept, providing valuable data on educational effectiveness, practice integration, and patient outcomes. These results will likely influence other states' consideration of similar legislation.

National Implications and Potential Expansion Colorado's VPA implementation is being closely monitored by veterinary professionals, policymakers, and animal welfare advocates nationwide. The success or failure of this initiative will significantly influence whether other states pursue similar mid-level practitioner models.

Several factors will determine the program's long-term viability: Patient safety outcomes and quality of care metrics Client satisfaction and acceptance of VPA services Practice integration challenges and economic impact Regulatory effectiveness and supervision model success Veterinary professional acceptance and collaboration The creation of the Veterinary Professional Associate position represents a potentially transformative solution to address persistent veterinary workforce shortages and the access-tocare crisis affecting millions of animals and their families. Colorado's pioneering direction reflects not only growing recognition that traditional approaches may be insufficient but also a moral imperative to ensure that financial circumstances do not determine whether animals receive necessary medical care.

The evidence is clear: 28% of pet-owning households experiences barrier to veterinary care(30/31), 2.7 million spay/neuter surgeries go unperformed annually(32/33), and 344,000 animals in California shelters alone lack adequate medical attention due to workforce shortages(34). These statistics represent individual tragedies—families forced to surrender beloved pets, animals suffering without treatment, and human-animal bonds severed by economic barriers.

VPAs offer hope for transforming this crisis into opportunity. By expanding the veterinary workforce, reducing costs, and increasing accessibility, VPAs could significantly impact the 29 million dogs and cats living in financially struggling families to receive the care they deserve. For rural communities, animal shelters, and underserved populations, VPAs represent not just workforce expansion but the possibility of preserving relationships that provide immeasurable emotional, psychological, and social benefits.

While the moral argument for VPAs is compelling: in a society where over 80% of pet owners consider their animals family members, access to veterinary care should not be determined by zip code or economic status. The success of physician assistants in human medicine demonstrates that para-professional practitioners can maintain quality while expanding access—a model that could prove equally transformative in veterinary medicine.

As Colorado's VPA program prepares to graduate its first class in 2027, the veterinary profession has an opportunity to embrace innovation while maintaining the highest standards of care. The alternative—continued workforce shortages, increased barriers to care, and mounting animal suffering—is simply unacceptable. The time for action is now, and VPAs represent a promising pathway forward to help ensure that all animals, regardless of their families' economic circumstances, receive the veterinary care they need and deserve. © 2025 CVPA. All Rights Reserved. Reproduction, modification, or distribution prohibited without prior written authorization. All trademarks are property of their respective owners, organizations and companies.

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References 1.Insurance Information Institute. (2024). Facts + Statistics: Pet Ownership and Insurance. Retrieved from https://www.iii.org/factstatistic/facts-statistics-pet-ownership-and-insurance [Based on APPA 2024-2025 National Pet Owners Survey showing 71% vs.

56% in 1988] 2.American Veterinary Medical Association. (2024). AVMA reignites congressional efforts to address highest level of rural veterinary shortages. Retrieved from https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/avma-reignites-congressional-efforts-address-highestlevel-rural-veterinary 3.Teller, L. (2023, July 13). Straight talk about veterinary workforce issues. American Veterinary Medical Association. Retrieved from https://www.avma.org/news/straight-talk-about-veterinary-workforce-issues 4.Otto Veterinary Statistics. (2024). 2024 veterinary stats: Industry trends and workforce projections. Retrieved from https://otto.vet/2024-veterinary-stats/ 5.Altoona Mirror. (2024, April 30). A big problem: Large animal vet shortage will have detrimental effect on ag industry. Retrieved from https://www.altoonamirror.com/news/local-news/2024/05/a-big-problem-large-animal-vet-shortage-will-have-detrimentaleffect-on-ag-industry/ [About 50% of rural veterinarians within five years of retirement] 6.Otto Veterinary Statistics. (2024). 2024 veterinary stats: Industry trends and workforce projections. Retrieved from https://otto.vet/2024-veterinary-stats/ 7.Otto Veterinary Statistics. (2024). 2024 veterinary stats: Industry trends and workforce projections. Retrieved from https://otto.vet/2024-veterinary-stats/ 8.Access to Veterinary Care Coalition. (2018). Access to Veterinary Care: Barriers, Current Practices, and Public Policy. University of Tennessee. Retrieved from https://www.aaha.org/publications/newstat/articles/2018-12/new-report-barriers-to-veterinary-carelargely-financial/ 9.Advances in Small Animal Care. (2023). Access to Veterinary Care–A National Family Crisis and Case for One Health. Retrieved from https://www.advancesinsmallanimalcare.com/article/S2666-450X(23)00008-1/fulltext 10.Otto Veterinary Statistics. (2024). 2024 veterinary stats: Pet ownership and financial barriers. Retrieved from https://otto.vet/2024-veterinary-stats/ 11.Kogut, S., Montgomery, M. L., & Levy, J. K. (2024). The nonprofit veterinarian shortage: Who will care for the pets most in need?

Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.69696/jsmcah.75 12.Guerios, S. D., Clemmer, G., & Levy, J. K. (2025). The pandemic's cruel aftermath: progressive decline in spay/neuter capacity.

Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1558235 13.Kogut, S., Montgomery, M. L., & Levy, J. K. (2024). The nonprofit veterinarian shortage: Who will care for the pets most in need?

Journal of Shelter Medicine and Community Animal Health, 3(1). https://doi.org/10.69696/jsmcah.75 14.Colorado Secretary of State. (2024). Colorado Proposition 129, Veterinary Professional Associate Initiative. Ballotpedia. Retrieved from https://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_Proposition_129,Veterinary_Professional_Associate_Initiative(2024) 15.Colorado Politics. (2024, November 6). The latest on campaign finance: Keep Our Pets Safe raised $2.45 million. Retrieved from https://www.coloradopolitics.com/news/the-latest-on-campaign-finance-millions-spent-on-colorados-ranked-choice-votingproposal/article_195a2042-961b-11ef-bf6d-df9de3a60e68.html 16.Colorado Secretary of State. (2024). Colorado Proposition 129, Veterinary Professional Associate Initiative. Ballotpedia. Retrieved from https://ballotpedia.org/Colorado_Proposition_129,Veterinary_Professional_Associate_Initiative(2024) 17.Lanning, S. (2025, February 7). CSU board approves veterinary professional associates curriculum. Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine News. Retrieved from https://cvmbs.source.colostate.edu/board-approves-curriculum-veterinaryprofessional-associates/ 18.Colorado State University. (2025). Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Care, Plan B. Colorado State University Catalog.

Retrieved from https://catalog.colostate.edu/general-catalog/colleges/veterinary-medicine-biomedical-sciences/clinicalsciences/veterinary-clinical-care-ms-plan-b/ 19.Lanning, S. (2025, February 7). CSU board approves veterinary professional associates curriculum. Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine News. Retrieved from https://cvmbs.source.colostate.edu/board-approves-curriculum-veterinaryprofessional-associates/ 20.MyVetCandy. (2025, February 11). Colorado State launches first-of-its-kind program to train midlevel veterinary providers.

Retrieved from https://www.myvetcandy.com/blog/2025/2/11/colorado-state-launches-first-of-its-kind-program-to-trainmidlevel-veterinary-providers 21.U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Federal regulations governing veterinary prescription drug use. FDA Center for Veterinary Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/animal-veterinary/ 22.American Veterinary Medical Association. (2025). Veterinary professional associate curriculum light on hands-on training.

Retrieved from https://www.avma.org/news/veterinary-professional-associate-curriculum-light-hands-training 23.Lanning, S. (2025, February 7). CSU board approves veterinary professional associates curriculum. Colorado State University.

Retrieved from https://cvmbs.source.colostate.edu/board-approves-curriculum-veterinary-professional-associates/ 24.Colorado Public Radio. (2024, November 5). Colorado Pet Owners could see a new type of professional when their animals are sick. Retrieved from https://www.cpr.org/2024/11/05/proposition-129-veterinary-professional-associates-position-results/ 25.Champion of My Heart. (2024, September 19). Updated thoughts on Colorado VPA ballot measure. Retrieved from https://championofmyheart.com/ 26.All Pets Deserve Vet Care. (2024). FAQs: Veterinary Professional Associate Proposition 129. Retrieved from https://allpetsdeservevetcare.com/faqs/ 27.Access to Veterinary Care Coalition. (2018). Access to Veterinary Care: Barriers, Current Practices, and Public Policy. University of Tennessee. Retrieved from https://www.aaha.org/publications/newstat/articles/2018-12/new-report-barriers-to-veterinary-carelargely-financial/ 28.Guerios, S. D., Clemmer, G., & Levy, J. K. (2025). The pandemic's cruel aftermath: progressive decline in spay/neuter capacity.

Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 12. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2025.1558235 29.UC Davis KORET SHELTER MEDICINE PROGRAM. (2023, February). Study Confirms Statewide Veterinary Shortage. Retrieved from https://www.sheltermedicine.com/study-confirms-statewide-veterinary-shortage/ 30.Talk Poverty. (November 2021). Most Americans Have Pets. Almost Third Can’t Afford Their Vet Care. Retrieved from: https://talkpoverty.org/2021/11/12/low-income-veterinary-care-affordability/index.html 31.University of Tennessee Access to Veterinary Care Coalition Report. (2018) - 28% experience barriers 32.University of Florida studies on spay/neuter deficits - Published in Frontiers in Veterinary Science (2022, 2025) 33.Frontiers in Veterinary Science. (December 2025). The pandemic’s cruel aftermath: progressive decline in spay/neuter capacity.

The pandemic’s cruel aftermath: progressive decline in spay/neuter capacity. AUTHOR: Guerios Simone D., Clemmer Gina , Levy Julie K. DOI=10.3389/fvets.2025.1558235, ISSN=2297-1769 Retrieved from: https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/veterinaryscience/articles/10.3389/fvets.2025.1558235/full (9)