The Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine (SBVM) held a stakeholder meeting this week to gather input on an important next step in the implementation of Proposition 129: selecting an entity to develop the national examination and provide credentialing services for the Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA).
At its April 9 meeting, the Board discussed both the process used to select an examination and credentialing entity and questions related to that entity’s policy position on the VPA role. In response, the Board initiated a stakeholder input process to gather additional perspectives before moving forward. The stakeholder input can be viewed here. The Board’s stakeholder announcement can be viewed here.
This decision is significant. The structure and quality of the examination and credentialing process will play a key role in how the VPA functions in practice—and how it is perceived by the profession and the public.
CVMA Input to the SBVM
CVMA submitted formal written testimony and provided oral comments during the meeting. Our input focused on three areas that we believe are essential to a strong and credible outcome:
1. Clear and Transparent Evaluation Process
CVMA encouraged the Board to use a structured and transparent evaluation and selection approach—such as a Request for Proposal (RFP) or similar process—to assess potential credentialing partners.
Given the significance of this decision, a consistent and well-defined process helps ensure:
- Meaningful comparison across qualified entities
- Transparency in decision-making
- Confidence in the outcome among stakeholders
We also emphasized that this is a specialized area, and that incorporating expertise in high-stakes examination development can strengthen the Board’s evaluation.
2. Governance and Conflict-of-Interest Safeguards
Many stakeholders raised concerns about potential conflicts of interest from multiple perspectives.
CVMA recommended clear and consistent governance practices, including:
- Disclosure of financial and professional relationships
- Appropriate recusal practices
- Transparency expectations for any selected partner
These are standard elements of strong regulatory decision-making and are particularly important in high-visibility decisions.
3. Defining Scope of Practice Before Finalizing the Exam
A central theme of CVMA’s input was the importance of clearly defining the VPA scope of practice in rule.
For a new role, scope is foundational—it drives:
- Examination content
- Competency expectations
- How the role functions within veterinary teams
CVMA emphasized that while educational programs provide valuable input, the responsibility for defining scope rests with the Board.
We also highlighted that Colorado’s veterinary needs span a wide range of practice settings, including:
- Companion animal
- Shelter medicine
- Rural mixed-animal
- Production animal practice
Ensuring that the scope reflects this full range will be critical to the long-term success of the VPA role.
Why this matters for CVMA members
The decisions being made now will directly shape how the VPA role functions in practice, including supervision expectations, team structure, and clinical responsibility. CVMA’s engagement is focused on helping ensure that this framework is clear, workable in real-world settings, and aligned with the needs of veterinarians across Colorado.
Looking Ahead
The Board has not yet made a final decision about next steps following the Stakeholder meeting. We expect to learn more at the June 11 meeting of the Board.
CVMA will remain actively engaged as this process moves forward, with a focus on supporting outcomes that are:
- Credible and legally defensible
- Aligned with Colorado’s policy direction
- Supportive of high-quality veterinary care
- Trusted by both the profession and the public, and workable for veterinarians in day-to-day practice.
We will continue to keep members informed as additional decisions are made.
Members who would like additional information can view stakeholder input here.