Colorado § 12-315-105.5 - Delegation to and supervision of veterinary technicians, veterinary technician specialists, veterinary professional associates, and other qualified personnel - rules.

§ 12-315-105.5. Delegation to and supervision of veterinary technicians, veterinary technician specialists, veterinary professional associates, and other qualified personnel - rules.

(1) A licensed veterinarian may delegate tasks in accordance with this section and rules adopted by the board pursuant to this section.

(2) A licensed veterinarian shall establish a veterinarian-client-patient relationship before the veterinarian delegates a task to a veterinary technician, a veterinary technician specialist, a veterinary professional associate, or other qualified personnel.

(3) (a) When determining whether to delegate a task to a veterinary technician, a veterinary technician specialist, a veterinary professional associate, or other qualified personnel, a licensed veterinarian shall consider:

(I) The level of education, skills, training, licensing, and experience of the veterinary technician, the veterinary technician specialist, the veterinary professional associate, or other qualified personnel;

(II) The appropriate level of supervision for the delegated task pursuant to subsections (4), (6), and (7) of this section and, if rules have been established by the board, any applicable rules established by the board pursuant to subsection (4) of this section; and

(III) Whether the delegation of the task complies with all applicable state and federal laws.

(b) (I) If a licensed veterinarian delegates a task to a veterinary technician, a veterinary technician specialist, or other qualified personnel and that task is covered by rules established pursuant to subsection (4) of this section or an applicable board rule, the licensed veterinarian must provide supervision at least at the level of supervision prescribed by rule.

(II) If a licensed veterinarian delegates a task to a veterinary technician, a veterinary technician specialist, or other qualified personnel and that task is not covered by rules established pursuant to subsection (4) of this section or an applicable board rule, the licensed veterinarian may delegate the task at an appropriate level of supervision, as determined by the licensed veterinarian in accordance with this part 1.

(3.5) A licensed veterinarian may delegate the practice of veterinary medicine to a veterinary professional associate and supervise the performance of the veterinary professional associate if:

(a) The licensed veterinarian has signed an agreement with the veterinary professional associate in accordance with section 12-315-203.7 (6);

(b) The delegation, supervision, and performance of the practice of veterinary medicine are being conducted in compliance with this article 315 and all applicable board rules;

(c) The supervising licensed veterinarian is located at the same veterinary premises as the veterinary professional associate while the veterinary professional associate is performing the practice of veterinary medicine, unless the veterinary professional associate meets the indirect supervision requirements of subsection (9) of this section; and

(d) The supervising licensed veterinarian is supervising no more than three veterinary professional associates who are practicing veterinary medicine at any one time.

(4) On or before September 1, 2025, the board shall adopt rules regarding the following tasks that a licensed veterinarian may delegate to a veterinary technician or a veterinary technician specialist and the stated level of supervision to perform those tasks:

(a) A licensed veterinarian may delegate the following tasks to a veterinary technician or veterinary technician specialist who is under the licensed veterinarian's immediate supervision:

(I) Assisting in surgical procedures; and

(II) The placement of abdominal, thoracic, esophagostomy, or percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tubes.

(b) A licensed veterinarian may delegate the following tasks to a veterinary technician or veterinary technician specialist who is under at least direct supervision by the licensed veterinarian:

(I) Dental procedures, including, at a minimum:

(A) Removing calculus, soft deposits, plaque, and stains;

(B) Smoothing, filing, and polishing of teeth;

(C) Single root extractions that do not require sectioning of the tooth or sectioning of the bone; and

(D) Suturing a gingival incision;

(II) Placement of epidural and intraosseous catheters;

(III) Suturing, stapling, or gluing an existing surgical skin incision; and

(IV) Treatment of minor medical conditions, as determined by the licensed veterinarian, if:

(A) The veterinary technician or veterinary technician specialist has the training and competency to perform the treatment;

(B) The treatment is performed in consultation with the licensed veterinarian or under previously established written protocols; and

(C) The licensed veterinarian is available to manage the case if it is determined that the condition of the patient requires care beyond the abilities of the veterinary technician or veterinary technician specialist.

(c) A licensed veterinarian may delegate the following tasks to a veterinary technician or veterinary technician specialist who is under at least indirect supervision by the licensed veterinarian:

(I) Unless prohibited by state or federal law, the administration and application of treatments, including:

(A) Prescription drugs;

(B) Medications;

(C) Controlled substances;

(D) Enemas; and

(E) Biological immunological agents;

(II) Intravenous and intra-arterial catheterizations and maintenance;

(III) Imaging, including radiography, ultrasonography, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, and fluoroscopy and the administration of radiopaque agents or materials;

(IV) Unless prohibited by state or federal law, the collection of:

(A) Blood;

(B) Cellular or microbiological samples through skin scrapings, impressions, or other nonsurgical methods; and

(C) Urine through bladder expression, unobstructed catheterization, cystocentesis, or insertion of an indwelling urinary catheter;

(V) Monitoring of:

(A) An electrocardiogram, or "EKG";

(B) Blood pressure; and

(C) Carbon dioxide and blood oxygen saturation;

(VI) Clinical laboratory test procedures;

(VII) Handling and disposing of biohazardous waste materials;

(VIII) Implantation of a subcutaneous microchip;

(IX) Administration of a therapeutic laser, except for the use of surgical lasers;

(X) Application of animal rehabilitation therapies;

(XI) Ocular tonometry, Schirmer tear tests, or fluorescein stain application;

(XII) Suture and staple removal;

(XIII) Application of splints and slings for the temporary immobilization of fractures;

(XIV) Administration of chemotherapy or radiation therapy;

(XV) Reproductive ultrasound and semen evaluation;

(XVI) Blood or blood component collection, preparation, and administration for transfusion or blood banking purposes;

(XVII) Placement of gastric, nasogastric, or nasoesophageal tubes;

(XVIII) Fluid aspiration from a body cavity or organ;

(XIX) Minor wound management;

(XX) Placement of nasal catheters; and

(XXI) Emergency patient care, such as:

(A) Application of tourniquets or pressure procedures to control hemorrhage;

(B) Application of appropriate wound dressings;

(C) Resuscitative oxygen procedures;

(D) Anti-seizure treatment;

(E) Supportive treatment in heat prostration cases;

(F) Administration of a drug, a controlled substance, or parenteral fluids to manage and control pain, prevent further injury, prevent or control shock, or prevent the suffering of an animal, up to and including euthanasia; and

(G) Initiation and performance of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, or "CPR", including administration of medication and defibrillation, and immediate post-resuscitation care.

(5) (a) In adopting rules pursuant to this section related to the delegation of tasks and supervision of veterinary professionals or other personnel, the board shall:

(I) Consult with licensed veterinarians, registered veterinary technicians, veterinary technician specialists, clients, and other relevant stakeholders, as determined by the board;

(II) Permit a veterinary technician specialist to perform any task under at least indirect supervision by a licensed veterinarian in accordance with subsection (6) of this section.

(III) Require that a licensed veterinarian supervise a veterinary professional associate under either immediate supervision or direct supervision when the veterinary professional associate is practicing veterinary medicine, unless the veterinary professional associate meets the indirect supervision requirements of subsection (9) of this section; and

(IV) Permit a veterinary professional associate to perform veterinary tasks that do not constitute the practice of veterinary medicine under indirect supervision if the supervising licensed veterinarian determines that the veterinary tasks are within the veterinary professional associate's education and training and if the licensed veterinarian delegates the veterinary tasks in accordance with this section and applicable board rules.

(b) The board shall review and update the rules promulgated pursuant to this section as necessary to account for developments in the practice of veterinary medicine and veterinary technology.

(6) A licensed veterinarian may delegate any task to a veterinary technician specialist who is under at least indirect supervision by the licensed veterinarian if the licensed veterinarian determines the task is within the veterinary technician specialist's training, experience, and competency and is otherwise not in conflict with this article 315, an applicable board rule, or any other state or federal law.

(7) Notwithstanding any provision of this article 315, an applicable board rule, or any other state or federal law, a licensed veterinarian may delegate a task to an individual who is not a veterinary technician or veterinary technician specialist if the veterinarian determines that the task is within the individual's training and experience and the individual is under the veterinarian's direct or immediate supervision; except that the treatment of minor medical conditions may only be delegated to a veterinary technician or veterinary technician specialist in accordance with subsection (4)(b)(IV) of this section.

(8) A licensed veterinarian shall follow all applicable state and federal law when issuing prescriptions.

(9) A veterinary professional associate may practice veterinary medicine under indirect supervision if the veterinary professional associate meets requisite clinical benchmarks, including performing the practice of veterinary medicine under the direct or immediate supervision of a licensed veterinarian for a specified amount of hours, as determined by the board.

Source: L. 2024: Entire section added, (HB 24-1047), ch. 36, p. 126, § 4, effective August 7. L. 2025: (2), IP(3)(a), (3)(a)(I), IP(5)(a), and (5)(a)(I) amended and (3.5), (5)(a)(III), (5)(a)(IV), (8), and (9) added, (HB 25-1285), ch. 305, p. 1595, § 4, effective January 1, 2026.

Cross references: For the legislative declaration in HB 24-1047, see section 1 of chapter 36, Session Laws of Colorado 2024. For the legislative declaration in HB 25-1285, see section 1 of chapter 305, Session Laws of Colorado 2025.