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Dear Licensee:
This communication is to inform you of recent legislation affecting your profession.
On May 30, 2025, Gov. Jared Polis signed HB25-1285: Veterinary Workforce Requirements into law. This bill makes amendments to Proposition 129 passed by voters that established the role of the veterinary professional associate in Colorado.
Effective on January 1, 2026, any individual who intends to practice as a VPA must be registered by the board. The bill also clarifies that a licensed veterinarian may delegate the practice of veterinary medicine to a veterinary professional associate under the appropriate level of supervision if the licensed veterinarian has signed an agreement with the veterinary professional associate; if the supervising licensed veterinary is located at the same veterinary premises as the veterinary professional associate; and given that the licensed veterinarian is supervising the veterinary professional associate under either immediate supervision or direct supervision when the VPA is practicing veterinary medicine. A VPA may practice veterinary medicine under indirect supervision if the VPA meets the requisite clinical benchmarks.
Additionally, the bill gives the board authority to adopt rules to approve a nationally recognized veterinary professional associate credentialing organization, while also requiring continuing education for veterinary professional associates. A supervisory agreement for a licensed veterinarian to supervise a VPA should not be a condition of a veterinarian's continued employment under any corporation, employer, director, or officer. However, each VPA shall enter into an agreement with every licensed veterinarian that will supervise the VPA in the VPA’s performance of veterinary medicine. A VPA must clearly identify themselves to the client, both visually and verbally, as a VPA.
More information is available here.
Implementation of these changes is in progress. Questions may be referred to dora_veterinarymedicineboard@state.co.us. Please visit the DPO Legislative Update webpage for all updates affecting licensees under the Division’s regulatory authority. Thank you.
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