Colorado State Launches First-of-Its-Kind Program to Train Midlevel Veterinary Providers
Colorado State University’s governing board has approved an academic curriculum for a new master’s program designed to train veterinary professional associates (VPAs). The VPA role is intended to provide medical services at a level between that of veterinary technicians and licensed veterinarians, under veterinary supervision.
The VPA role has been proposed as one approach to addressing veterinary care shortages, particularly in rural areas and animal shelters. Similar to physician assistants in human medicine, VPAs would assist veterinarians in delivering care while working within a defined scope of practice.
CSU plans to enroll 20 to 30 students in the Master of Science in Veterinary Clinical Care program starting in Fall 2025, with the first class expected to graduate in Fall 2027. For comparison, CSU’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program graduates approximately 150 veterinarians per year.
The development of the VPA role has been under discussion at CSU for more than a decade as part of broader efforts to address workforce gaps in veterinary medicine. In 2023, CSU received a grant from PetSmart Charities to support curriculum development for the program. The curriculum includes coursework on common animal diseases, communication, behavior, euthanasia practices, leadership, and team management.
In November 2024, Colorado voters passed Proposition 129, which authorized the creation of the VPA profession and set minimum education and qualification requirements. The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies is now tasked with defining the scope of practice for VPAs before they can be integrated into veterinary teams.
The curriculum, designed by CSU’s College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, went through a 17-step review process before being approved by the university’s Board of Governors. Students entering the program must have a bachelor’s degree and specific coursework in math and science. The program includes both online and in-person instruction, culminating in a practicum focused on clinical procedures and reasoning.
The creation of the VPA role is one of several efforts to address veterinary workforce shortages. CSU is also involved in training veterinary technicians and is constructing a $230 million Veterinary Health and Education Complex to support the expansion of its DVM program.
Nationally, veterinary shortages have been documented in multiple regions. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, 237 rural areas across 47 states have been identified as experiencing critical shortages of veterinarians. Additionally, data from the American Veterinary Medical Association indicates that pet ownership has increased in recent years, contributing to a higher demand for veterinary care.
The VPA program represents a new educational pathway within veterinary medicine, with its impact on access to care and veterinary practice to be determined as the role develops within the regulatory framework.