[Editor's note: This section is effective January 1, 2026.]

1. (1) An individual who desires to practice as a veterinary professional associate in this state must file an application for registration with the board, along with the required application fee, in the manner determined by the board.

2. (2) Qualifications. (a) To be qualified for registration as a veterinary professional associate, an individual must:

   1. (I) Be at least eighteen years of age;

   2. (II) Hold a master's degree in veterinary clinical care or the equivalent as determined by the board that:

      1. (A) If completed before September 1, 2033, must be from a university-approved program that is approved by the board; or
      2. (B) If completed on or after September 1, 2033, must be from a university-approved program that is accredited by a nationally recognized accrediting organization or equivalent organization, as approved by the board; and
   3. (III) Pass a national credentialing exam to demonstrate entry-level competency to practice as a veterinary professional associate, as approved by the board.

   4. (b) An individual who does not meet the qualifications set forth in subsection (2)(a) of this section may be qualified to register as a veterinary professional associate if the individual:

      1. (I) Is registered as a veterinary technician with a designation as a veterinary technician specialist;
      2. (II) In lieu of the education requirements set forth in subsection (2)(a)(II) of this section, meets the requirements of the equivalent registration pathway as established by the board pursuant to section 12-315-106 (10); and
      3. (III) Passes the same national credentialing exam to demonstrate entry-level competency to practice as a veterinary professional associate, as approved by the board.
3. (3) Registration. Effective January 1, 2026, an individual who practices as a veterinary professional associate in this state must be registered by the board pursuant to this section and rules adopted by the board for the registration of veterinary professional associates.

4. (4) Rules. Prior to registering veterinary professional associates pursuant to this section, the board shall establish, by rule:

   1. (a) The time frames and requirements for registration, renewal of registration, and suspension and reinstatement of registration for veterinary professional associates;
   2. (b) The method for an applicant to demonstrate that the applicant meets the requirements set forth in subsection (2) of this section;
   3. (c) Any information or confirmation required by the supervising licensed veterinarian, including the agreement entered into between the veterinarian and a veterinary professional associate pursuant to subsection (6) of this section;

   4. (c.5) A registration fee for the registration of veterinary professional associates, which fee shall:

      1. (I) Be paid by an individual applying for registration as a veterinary professional associate as part of their application; and
      2. (II) Be set at an amount that does not result in the collection of fees in an aggregate amount that is greater than the amount of administrative costs incurred by the board in the implementation of this article 315 related to veterinary professional associates;
      3. (d) Any continuing education requirements for veterinary professional associates in accordance with section 12-315-201 (1)(e) and subsection (5) of this section; and
      4. (e) Any other rules necessary to implement this section.
5. (5) A veterinary professional associate is subject to any biennial continuing education requirement established by the board pursuant to section 12-315-201 (1)(e) and rules adopted pursuant to subsection (4)(d) of this section as a condition of renewing registration.

6. (6)

   1. (a) Before a veterinary professional associate begins working with a supervising licensed veterinarian, the supervising licensed veterinarian and the veterinary professional associate shall enter into a mutual agreement that states:

      1. (I) That the supervising licensed veterinarian is responsible and accountable for the acts and omissions of the veterinary professional associate in their practice of veterinary medicine and verifying that the veterinary professional associate has the competency to practice veterinary medicine or perform any tasks delegated to them by the supervising licensed veterinarian related to the practice of veterinary medicine;
      2. (II) That the licensed veterinarian shall supervise no more than three veterinary professional associates who are practicing veterinary medicine at any one time and that a veterinary professional associate and the supervising licensed veterinarian must be located at the same veterinary premises while the veterinary professional associate is practicing veterinary medicine, unless the veterinary professional associate meets the indirect supervision requirements of section 12-315-105.5 (9);
      3. (III) The species for which the veterinary professional associate has received education and training in the practice of veterinary medicine; and
      4. (IV) The date on which the licensed veterinarian will begin supervising and working with the veterinary professional associate.

   2. (b)

      1. (I) A veterinary professional associate shall enter into an agreement described in subsection (6)(a) of this section with every licensed veterinarian who will supervise the veterinary professional associate in the veterinary professional associate's performance of veterinary medicine.
      2. (II) A supervising licensed veterinarian shall enter into the agreement described in subsection (6)(a) of this section with every veterinary professional associate employed at the veterinary premises that the supervising licensed veterinarian intends to supervise in the practice of veterinary medicine.
   3. (c) The supervising licensed veterinarian and the veterinary professional associate shall keep a copy of the agreement described in subsection (6)(a) of this section on file at the veterinarian's and veterinary professional associate's place of business.
   4. (d) If the supervisory relationship between a supervising licensed veterinarian and the veterinary professional associate is terminated for any reason, including termination of employment of either party or termination of the supervisory relationship between the parties, the date that the supervisory relationship concluded shall be recorded and placed on file with the agreement described in subsection (6)(a) of this section.

Source: Initiated 2024: Entire section added, Proposition 129, effective January 1, 2026. See L. 2025, p. 3621. L. 2025: (2), (3), and (4)(c) amended and (4)(c.5) and (6) added, (HB 25-1285), ch. 305, p. 1599, § 11, effective January 1, 2026.

Editor's note: This section was added by Proposition 129, effective January 1, 2026. The measure was approved on November 5, 2024, and was proclaimed by the Governor on December 17, 2024, see L. 2025, p. 3621. The vote count for the measure was as follows:

FOR: 1,572,545

AGAINST: 1,407,814

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 25-1285, see section 1 of chapter 305, Session Laws of Colorado 2025.