Frequently Asked Questions

Visit the admission requirements page for the full list of prerequisite courses.

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution
• Completion of required prerequisite coursework with grade of C- or higher
• Strong academic preparation in upper-level science courses
• 150+ hours of veterinary or animal care experience
• Demonstrated professionalism, resilience, and alignment with program values

*Selected applicants will be invited to a virtual interview as the final step in the admissions process.

Program format (five semesters):

• Semesters one through three include online synchronous courses (Monday, Wednesday, Friday 8 a.m.-noon MT)
• Semester four includes 416 hours of in-person training at CSU’s state-of-the-art Veterinary Health and Education Complex in Fort Collins, CO
• Semester five includes a 540-hour clinical internship at an approved community partner (shelter or practice)

The program’s internship coordinator will secure an internship location for you. Internship locations will primarily be in Colorado, at shelters and hospitals that have been previously reviewed and approved by the internship coordinator.

Students can request specific locations for an internship but are not guaranteed placement at those locations.

After completing the program, graduates will be eligible to take a new board examination. Passing this exam is required to become licensed and practice as a veterinary professional associate in Colorado.

Established by the state of Colorado, the veterinary professional associate is a new role similar to a physician assistant in human medicine. This mid-level role fills a gap between veterinarians and veterinary technicians and – along with other institutional initiatives – helps address a national shortage of veterinary care, particularly in rural areas.

Veterinary professional associates will work under the supervision of a veterinarian and are specially trained to work on only canine and feline cases to diagnose animal medical concerns, perform routine surgeries, and order and perform tests and procedures.

With their unique skillset, VPAs will help relieve veterinarians from extra tasks, enhancing the efficiency of the veterinary care team as a whole, preventing burnout, and improving access to care. While VPAs address routine cases and help manage backlogs of patients, veterinarians can focus more time and energy on patient care in cases that require their unique expertise. Veterinary professional associates will have knowledge and authority, under supervision of a licensed veterinarian, to diagnose and treat common illnesses and injuries, but veterinary care teams will still need the expertise of veterinary technicians to provide well-rounded care to patients.

Our curriculum will provide advanced medical training beyond the technical training veterinary technicians receive, while maintaining a clear distinction from the D.V.M. role. Veterinary technician specialists are trained and licensed in specialty areas. Their training is case- and experience-based, and different from the medical training to be delivered to VPAs. Coursework will cover diagnosing common dog and cat conditions, performing routine procedures, and recommending tests and treatments. VPAs will enhance veterinary teams by handling routine medical tasks under veterinary supervision, allowing veterinarians to focus on complex cases.

Across the U.S., animal shelters and veterinary practices face critical challenges in providing timely and affordable care. The veterinary professional associate (VPA) is a new, mid-level role designed to strengthen care teams and expand access to veterinary care.

The need in numbers:

• 71.9% of practice managers/owners and 67.3% of technicians divert clients weekly due to overwhelming caseloads.
• 72% of veterinarians and technicians had to euthanize an animal in the past year because of cost barriers, with 66.2% reporting mental health impacts from those decisions.
• 51.2% of veterinary professionals agree VPAs would improve access to care for underserved populations.
• 61% of veterinary technicians believe VPAs would positively impact the profession, and 64% say VPAs would increase access to care.

For applicants that do not plan to practice in the state of Colorado, the scope of practice of the VPA will be defined by each state’s veterinary practice act. Many states’ veterinary practice acts have exemptions for shelters, allowing a VPA to practice in a shelter hospital.