MID-LEVEL PRACTITIONERS AND VETERINARY PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATES POSITION STATEMENT

Introduction

Mission Pet Health is one of the largest veterinary care organizations in the United States, operating a nationwide network of animal hospitals. Our mission is to reimagine excellence in veterinary care by empowering local hospital teams with world-class support while preserving their clinical autonomy and community identity. Founded by veterinarians, we are committed to advancing personalized, high-quality medicine and fostering the professional development and wellbeing of the veterinary workforce. We take a keen interest in all issues affecting veterinary medicine, including animal health and welfare, clinical standards, workforce sustainability, and the advancement of veterinary science.

Following the establishment of a new mid-level position, the Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA), in Colorado, Mission is concerned about the impact of this role on the veterinary profession and the quality and safety of care provided.

Background
In 2024, Colorado voters approved Proposition 129, creating the VPA role, to address workforce shortages, with House Bill 25-1285 signed into law and effective January 1, 2026ⁱ . The role requires a masters degree, passing of a credentialing examination and registration with the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine. The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) has been approved as the credentialing body. Colorado State University has published the curriculum for the Master of Science in veterinary clinical careⁱⁱ, with a duration of approximately 2 academic years, encompassing of 3 online semesters (40 credits), 416 hours in person training and 540-hour clinical internship (combined total of 25 credits).

VPAs would be permitted to practice veterinary medicine, including diagnosing, surgery and order or perform tests and other procedures, under the appropriate level of supervision by a licensed veterinarian. Each veterinarian supervises no more than 3 VPAs. VPAs will not be permitted to prescribe and unable to establish a veterinarian-client-patient-relationship (VCPR).

Our Concerns

While the intent to address workforce challenges is acknowledged, we believe the VPA initiative undermines the standards of care the veterinary profession is built upon and does not address the workforce challenges facing the veterinary profession, which are already being addressed by other initiatives and a changing demand profile.

The creation of this role introduces a professional tier that lacks the rigorous education, training, and oversight required to meet the complex needs of modern veterinary medicine and as such, the VPA framework risks jeopardizing the quality and safety of care provided to pets and the trust of owners. Veterinarians undergo extensive and rigorous training, including an undergraduate degree followed by a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), where the curriculum must include at least 130 weeks of direct instruction, and a minimum of 40 weeks of clinical hands-on educationⁱⁱⁱ . The VPA role undermines the value and depth of DVM training, as it establishes a pathway that bypasses the rigorous academic and clinical preparation foundational to veterinary medicine. This bypass risks compromising the quality and safety of patient care, as well as eroding public trust.

Additionally, we are concerned about the extra burden on licensed veterinarians, of the oversight and management of VPAs, with the supervising veterinarians’ license at risk due to the actions and decisions taken by VPAs with a fraction of their training. This may result in exacerbation of workforce challenges rather than helping alleviate them.

Access to veterinary care is a genuine issue, in rural and low-income communities. However, the VPA role is unlikely to help address this issue for several reasons, including other projects and actions being undertaken to address workforce pressures. There is an assumption that VPA would be prepared to live and work in these areas, however with younger veterinarians choosing to not work in these areas, it is highly unlikely that VPAs would choose to do so. The introduction of the VPA position is also coming at a time where the workforce profile and challenges within the profession are changing. There is increasing evidence that to the year 2035 there is likely to be sufficient graduates from US colleges to meet demand^iv, following the rapid increase in demand seen following the pandemic and concurrent expansion of veterinary school places. Alongside this, industry data shows that clinical volumes are also decreasing, as are the number of new clients visiting hospitals, and at the same time, veterinary practices are embracing technology that will help reduce burnout and improve productivity. VPAs will be entering the workforce at a time of significant change, and effectively directly competing with recently graduated veterinarians for the same clinical work: veterinary graduates who will be carrying significant debt and entering a workforce with significant structural changes and challenges.

Mission is not alone in having concerns. The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), all 50-state veterinary medical associations and associations representing the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico^v , the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA)^vi, and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) ^vii have all spoken out in opposition of the mid-level practitioner role.

Proposed Alternative

Credentialed veterinary technicians (CrVT) are already an integral part of clinical practice, with the appropriate standard of education and experience to provide greater support in veterinary hospitals, with well-established and rigorous education and licensing processes in place. Rather than the introduction of VPAs, we would advocate and support investing in CrVT advancement, including title protection and increased scope of practice for all licensed veterinary technicians and support the development of Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) programs. Empowering CrVTs to carry out an expanded scope of work, equipping them with the enhanced skills and knowledge, and further advanced qualifications necessary to enhance care, they will be enabled to support veterinarians and ensure better outcomes for patients without compromising quality or patient safety.

For inquiries and interviews: media@missionpethealth.com.