Educating the Veterinary Professional Associate

Colorado State University shares an update on its new master’s degree program for mid-level practitioners.

Last November, Colorado residents voted “yes” to a first in veterinary medicine – the creation of a Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) role. To meet the educational needs of the new designation, Colorado State University (CSU) announced it would be creating a Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Care program.

The university said it is on track to launch in Fall 2025, with the first cohort of 20-30 students expected to graduate in 2027.

“Given the overwhelming interest – more than 450 inquiries from prospective students even before active promotion – we know prospective students are eager to apply and this program is filling a clear need in veterinary education and workforce development, especially in the animal shelter community,” a University spokesperson told Vet-Advantage.

Can you tell us about the process of creating the curriculum and identifying faculty?

This is one of the first programs of its kind designed to formally establish the Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) role, a mid-level practitioner in veterinary medicine. The curriculum development was a multi-year effort led by CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences. Course objectives were adapted from CSU’s top-ranked Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) curriculum for a master’s-level scope of practice, ensuring students receive rigorous training with an emphasis on common infectious and physiological diseases of dogs and cats.

While CSU worked with curriculum design experts to develop the program, the Colorado Division of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) will develop the framework for licensing the veterinary professional associate and determine the scope of practice for veterinary professional associates and veterinary supervisory requirements.

The program will be led by Dr. Shari Lanning, who has expertise in curriculum development and pedagogical methods. CSU is starting the hiring process for additional instructors now. The instructors will be specific for the Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Care program and will not compete with teaching needs for the DVM program.

What will be some of the key tenets of the curriculum?

The Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Care curriculum is a total of 65 credits and includes a blend of online coursework, hands-on laboratory training and a clinical internship with a veterinary community partner. It focuses on essential clinical skills for VPAs who will practice small animal medicine. Key components include training to identify abnormal findings on physical examinations and diagnostic tests and diagnosing and treating routine medical and surgical conditions, such as performing spay and neuter operations – all for dogs and cats only. Up to date information on the program curriculum and requirements is published on our information page: https://vetmedbiosci.colostate.edu/vpa.

The veterinary professional associate is a new role being introduced into veterinary medicine by the state of Colorado. What are some important distinctions of the role compared to veterinarians and other veterinary team members that you hope to educate and address through the program?

Currently, there are three key roles in veterinary medicine:

• Veterinarian. Attends eight years of specialized school to receive a doctoral degree and can perform various medical tasks
• Veterinary technician specialist. Elevated through Colorado legislature in 2024 and has specialized training, attends minimum two years of an associate’s degree and certification as a registered veterinary technician before receiving on-the-job training with certification
• Certified/registered veterinary technician. Typically receives an associate’s degree and can help veterinarians with medical tests and animal handling

CSU’s Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Care would produce a fourth, veterinary professional associate, a mid-level professional role for veterinary care teams that would complement the existing veterinary care team. The VPA role is designed to provide a level of veterinary care between veterinary technicians and veterinarians, increasing access to care in animal shelters and small animal practices. While veterinarians handle complex medical cases, surgeries and diagnostics, VPAs will focus on routine care, minor procedures and preventive medicine. VPAs will have a broader scope of practice than veterinary technicians, including the ability to diagnose certain conditions, perform specific surgeries, and prescribe medications as determined by DORA and federal prescribing laws.

Key distinctions include:

• VPAs require a master’s degree and advanced clinical training, unlike veterinary technicians, who typically hold an associate’s degree.
• VPAs work under the supervision of a veterinarian but are trained to perform more advanced medical and surgical tasks than veterinary technicians.
• All activities performed by the VPA will be delegated by the supervising veterinarian.

In what ways do you believe the VPA role could benefit the state’s veterinary workforce? Why is there a need for this?

Colorado’s veterinary profession faces workforce shortages, particularly in animal shelters and areas where access to veterinary care is limited. CSU’s role as a land-grant university is to provide practical solutions to industry challenges. The VPA program is an innovative step forward aimed at addressing veterinary workforce shortages while maintaining the highest standards of care.

The VPA role will help increase access to care by handling routine care and preventive medicine, freeing up veterinarians to focus on more complex cases. This model has the potential to enhance patient care by reducing wait times and improving access to veterinary services across Colorado. It also will help alleviate veterinarian workload, reduce stress and burnout and provide career advancement opportunities for veterinary technicians seeking to expand their roles.

Future iterations of the curriculum will emphasize large animal care, particularly livestock. VPAs will play a critical role in bridging the care gap and improving animal health outcomes in rural communities.

Colorado State University

CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences veterinary program is consistently ranked among the top veterinary schools in the United States and the world. It is particularly well-regarded for its emphasis on research, clinical training, and its focus on both large and small animals. The James L. Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital, one of the largest and most advanced facilities in the country, allows students to gain hands-on clinical experience in a wide range of veterinary specialties.

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