- Mission Pet Health says it opposes the Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) model established in Colorado.
- Colorado voters approved Proposition 129 in 2024, creating a new mid-level veterinary practitioner role intended to help address workforce shortages.
- Mission argues the VPA education and clinical training requirements do not match the preparation required of veterinarians and could create patient-care and oversight concerns.
- The veterinary organization also questions whether VPAs will meaningfully improve access to care in rural and underserved communities.
- Mission instead supports expanding opportunities and scope of practice for credentialed veterinary technicians and further developing Veterinary Technician Specialist programs.
- The company cited opposition to veterinary mid-level practitioner models from organizations including the AVMA, AAHA and NAVTA.
Mission Pet Health has taken a formal position against the introduction of Veterinary Professional Associates, a new category of veterinary professional established in Colorado.
The veterinary care organization said it recognizes concerns about workforce capacity and access to veterinary services but believes creating the VPA role could introduce new risks without resolving the underlying challenges facing the profession.
Colorado establishes a new veterinary role
Colorado voters approved Proposition 129 in 2024, establishing the VPA role as a new mid-level position in veterinary medicine. Subsequent legislation took effect Jan. 1, 2026.
According to Mission Pet Health, VPAs are required to earn a master’s degree, pass a credentialing examination and register with the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine. The American Association of Veterinary State Boards has been approved as the credentialing body.
Colorado State University has published a Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Care curriculum that Mission said spans approximately two academic years. The program includes online coursework, in-person training and a clinical internship.
Under Colorado’s framework, VPAs may perform certain aspects of veterinary medicine under the required level of supervision from a licensed veterinarian, including diagnosing conditions, performing surgery and ordering or conducting tests and other procedures. They cannot prescribe medications or establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship, according to Mission.
Mission raises training and oversight concerns
Mission Pet Health said its primary concerns center on the difference between VPA preparation and the education and clinical training required to become a veterinarian.
The organization argues that allowing professionals with substantially less training to perform some functions traditionally performed by veterinarians could affect quality of care, patient safety and public confidence in veterinary medicine.
Mission also raised concerns about the responsibilities placed on veterinarians supervising VPAs. Colorado permits a veterinarian to supervise up to three VPAs, according to the company.
Mission said the additional supervisory responsibility could add to veterinarians’ workloads and potentially expose supervising practitioners to professional consequences arising from decisions made by VPAs.
Questions about workforce impact
Although improving access to veterinary care is one of the arguments behind establishing a mid-level practitioner role, Mission questioned whether VPAs will ultimately address shortages in rural and lower-income communities.
The company pointed to broader changes in the veterinary labor market, including expansion of veterinary school capacity, changing clinical volumes and increasing adoption of technology designed to improve productivity and reduce administrative burdens.
Mission also cited projections suggesting the supply of U.S. veterinary graduates could be sufficient to meet demand through 2035. The organization argues that VPAs could therefore enter the profession during a changing labor environment and potentially compete with newly graduated veterinarians for clinical work.
Mission noted that other veterinary organizations have expressed opposition to mid-level practitioner models, citing the American Veterinary Medical Association, state veterinary medical associations, the American Animal Hospital Association and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America.
Expanding the veterinary technician role
Rather than developing a new professional tier, Mission Pet Health is advocating for greater investment in credentialed veterinary technicians.
The organization supports title protection and expanded scopes of practice for licensed veterinary technicians, along with continued development of Veterinary Technician Specialist programs.
Mission argues that giving credentialed technicians additional training, qualifications and clinical responsibilities could increase the capacity of veterinary teams while maintaining established education and credentialing structures.
The company said expanding the role of veterinary technicians represents a more appropriate way to support veterinarians, strengthen the workforce and improve patient care without introducing the concerns it associates with the VPA model.
Information sourced from the company’s press release.
