The Colorado Association of Certified Veterinary Technicians (CACVT) has announced an exciting update for current Veterinary Technician Specialists (VTSs) pursuing advanced credentials.
Beginning next month, CACVT will open applications for VTS verification, creating a clear pathway for Colorado RVTs to obtain an officially recognized Colorado VTS designation through CACVT and the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA).
Key Points and Dates
- To qualify, technicians must:
- Hold an active RVT registration with DORA
- Hold a VTS credential through a NAVTA-recognized academy
- CACVT will verify both credentials, then provide technicians with instructions to apply to DORA for their official VTS designation.
- The CACVT VTS verification will expire June of even-numbered years, in alignment with their credentialing cycle.
- There is no additional cost! In the future, this process will be integrated into the initial and renewal credentialing and registration processes for RVTs and VTSs in Colorado
Applications open December 2025 on CACVT’s website, and the program goes into effect on January 1, 2026.
Why This Matters
This designation provides title protection for the use of Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) and Registered Veterinary Technician Specialist (RVTS) and allows Registered VTSs to perform any delegated veterinary task within their scope of competence under indirect supervision.
Recognizing Veterinary Technician Specialists through a formal verification process strengthens the professional landscape for veterinary technicians in Colorado. As practices increasingly rely on advanced technical skills, from anesthesia and emergency/critical care to dentistry and internal medicine, having technicians who hold a verified VTS designation supports higher-quality patient care and more efficient clinical workflows. This update also helps practices with recruitment and retention by providing a clearer, more respected credentialing pathway for technicians pursuing specialty-level training and recognition.
What You Can Do Now
Practices can prepare by sharing this update with their technician teams and identifying individuals who may already meet, or be close to meeting, the eligibility requirements. It’s also helpful to review each technician’s credentialing records—especially RVT registration status and any existing VTS academy certifications—to ensure documentation is current and complete ahead of the December 2025 application window. Finally, practices may want to consider how they plan to support technicians pursuing VTS designation, whether through professional development planning, scheduling flexibility, or financial assistance for specialty certification.
CVMA will continue to track updates from CACVT and DORA and will keep members informed as more information becomes available.
More Information
For more information on distinctions between roles in veterinary medicine, you can read and download CVMA’s previous article on HB24-1047: Veterinary Technician Scope of Practice.
Additionally, CVMA produced a recorded CE on Colorado House Bill 1047: Veterinary Technician Scope of Practice. This 1 CE hour course also counts towards the 2 CE hour requirement for Colorado Veterinary Jurisprudence that veterinarians must take each licensing cycle. CVMA members have free access to this course. Non-members may purchase individually or as a bundle with all state-required CE.
For full details, visit cacvt.org/vts-verification or read CACVT’s initial announcement here.
