2021 was a BIG year for Colorado’s veterinary professionals with the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA). DORA completed both a sunset review of the Veterinary Practice Act and the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, and a sunrise review requested by the Colorado Association of Veterinary Technicians.
Both CACVT and CVMA are pleased that DORA’s sunset review recommends that the Veterinary Practice Act be renewed for 11 years, and that the DORA sunrise review report found that “consumers and patients rely heavily on the actions of veterinary technicians” and that a regulatory program for veterinary technicians should be created.
Colorado’s 2022 legislative session opened January 12, and both the sunset and sunrise reports will be discussed at the House Committee on Agriculture, Livestock, and Water in late January. As a result of much work since 2020, CACVT and CVMA are well prepared to engage in the legislative process.
Two primary goals guide our joint work on developing regulation of veterinary technicians:
- Colorado’s veterinary workforce has too few veterinary technicians, and therefore, regulation must provide pathways for all of Colorado’s veterinary technicians to become registered.
- Demand for veterinary services is increasing, so regulation must create a career path that improves retention and attracts more professionals in the future
While specific language for the legislation is still being drafted, the goals have translated to three key regulatory priorities:
- Title protection: Use of the title “veterinary technician” will convey to the public that veterinary technicians are educated, trained, and qualified. In clinic settings, it will encourage better utilization of the varied knowledge, skills, and competencies on veterinary teams.
- Minimum competency: Will establish baseline career entry requirements for future veterinary technicians, and a common understanding of clinical care competence that can be expected.
- Increased accountability: Inclusion of veterinary technicians in the Veterinary Practice Act will increase their understanding of the laws and regulations that must be followed in veterinary practice, which will in turn increase accountability of veterinary teams.
Change can be confusing, so we want to be clear: CACVT and CVMA’s joint goal is to retain everyone now working as veterinary technicians in Colorado and to provide inclusive opportunities for regulation. This means that veterinary technicians will have choices to follow a path that best meets their goals and the needs of the industry.
Together, CACVT and CVMA believe that public transparency, expanded access to veterinary personnel, and encouraged optimal utilization of veterinary staff are crucial for Colorado’s veterinary profession.
Curious about the benefits of technician regulation? Click here to read more from the AVMA, AAVSB, AAVMC, and NAVTA.
Both organizations will continue to engage in conversation about this topic and will share more updates as concrete information becomes available.
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