Mission Pet Health opposes new Veterinary Professional Associate role

Mission Pet Health, a major US veterinary care organization, has issued a formal statement opposing the newly established Veterinary Professional Associate (VPA) role. The company argues that the mid-level position could compromise patient safety and strain supervising veterinarians without effectively solving the workforce shortages it was intended to address.

## Concerns over training and supervision

The organization highlights the extensive training veterinarians undergo, including an undergraduate degree followed by a doctor of veterinary medicine program with at least 130 weeks of instruction and 40 weeks of clinical education. In contrast, the VPA pathway is seen as bypassing this rigorous preparation, potentially undermining care quality and public trust.

Mission Pet Health also warns that supervising veterinarians could face increased liability, as their licenses would be at risk based on the actions of VPAs with significantly less training. This dynamic, the company argues, may worsen workforce challenges rather than alleviate them.

## Doubts about rural access and workforce impact

The VPA role was partly designed to improve access to care in rural and low-income areas. However, Mission Pet Health expresses skepticism, noting that younger veterinarians have been reluctant to work in underserved regions, making it unlikely that VPAs would fill this gap. The company also points to projections showing that US veterinary school graduates will meet demand through 2035, alongside declining clinical volumes and new-client visits. With growing adoption of technology to reduce burnout, the company argues that VPAs would compete directly with recently graduated veterinarians for clinical work.

## Alternative solutions proposed

Instead of creating a new mid-level role, Mission Pet Health advocates for investing in credentialed veterinary technicians (CrVTs), who already operate within established education and licensing frameworks. The company supports expanding their scope of practice, enhancing their skills, and developing veterinary technician specialist programs.

| **Role** | **Education Requirements** | **Clinical Training** | |----------|---------------------------|-----------------------| | Veterinarian | Undergraduate degree + 130+ weeks of instruction + 40+ weeks of clinical education | Extensive hands-on training | | VPA | Master's degree + 40 credits online + 416 hours in-person + 540-hour clinical internship | Limited compared to veterinarians |

## Background and opposition

The VPA role was established in Colorado after voters narrowly approved Proposition 129 in November 2024, with 52.2% support. The measure faced opposition from over 200 veterinary industry organizations, including the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Colorado Veterinary Medical Association. The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), tasked with developing the licensing exam, has also opposed the role, arguing that Proposition 129 bypassed the traditional legislative process.

Under Colorado law, VPAs can diagnose, perform surgery, and order tests under supervision, but cannot prescribe medication or establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship. Each veterinarian can oversee up to three VPAs at a time.

Mission Pet Health is not alone in its opposition. The AVMA and the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) have also publicly opposed the mid-level practitioner concept, citing insufficient clinical preparation and risks to the collaborative care model.