Colorado votes to allow more people to provide veterinary care

Colorado is set to pass Proposition 129, with 72 percent of the votes counted as of press time. Regulation 129 establishes a new, legally recognized and regulated class of veterinary care providers known as veterinary professionals (VPAs).

Prior to this proposal, only licensed veterinarians, veterinary technicians, and veterinary technicians were legally permitted to provide veterinary care in Colorado. With the passage of Proposition 129, the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine would be required to recognize VPAs, define what type of nursing they can practice, establish the required level of supervision, and specify any additional credentials beyond a master’s degree in veterinary clinical nursing.

Proposition 129 states that VPAs “can perform tasks that fall within the scope of an individual’s higher education and training,” providing the profession with a wide range of practice. The proposal adds that “the full scope of practice may be determined by the state board,” leaving the door open to regulation by the three established veterinary providers who may be wary of competition.

If competition does increase, consumers will benefit from increased supply of veterinary care providers. Jeffrey Singer, senior fellow at the Cato Institute, reports that “there will likely still be a shortage of up to 24,000 companion veterinarians by 2030,” which will contribute to an increase in pet health care costs by three to four percent in real terms over the next decade. Expanding the pet care workforce to include VPAs is an easy way to reduce this shortage.

According to the authors, there are three arguments against this proposal. Colorado General Assembly: “The education and training requirements in the proposal are vague,” “there are currently no academic programs for this profession in Colorado,” and “a new and untested profession may increase the risk to animals.”

First, the vagueness of the proposal is a benefit rather than a liability, allowing more VPAs to qualify and practice, as opposed to a version that imposes numerous and difficult requirements for certification.

Second, although the state does not yet have an academic program for veterinary professionals, Colorado State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences is developing a master’s degree in veterinary clinical nursing that would train clinicians to “diagnose medical problems in animals.” “perform routine operations” and “order and perform tests and procedures,” Singer writes. The first cohort is expected to enroll in fall 2025. Moreover, VPAs can complete their degree elsewhere and return to Colorado—for example, Lincoln Memorial University College of Veterinary Medicine in Tennessee already offers Master of Veterinary Clinical Nursing degree.

Finally, if hospitals trust physician assistants, nurse practitioners, and other non-medical health care professionals to care for people, animal hospitals should be able to follow suit and add VPAs in addition to other pet care professionals.

Although American Veterinary Medical Association opposes the credentialing of veterinary professionals, their opposition can easily be attributed to rent seeking something more than just a genuine concern for animal welfare. Proposition 129 would alleviate the shortage of veterinary care providers in Colorado, lower prices, and improve the quality and timeliness of care for pets.