Colorado § 12-315-201 - Additional board duties - rules - repeal.

§ 12-315-201. Additional board duties - rules - repeal.

(1) In addition to any other duties specified in this part 2 and sections 12-315-105.5 and 12-315-106, the board shall:

(a) Approve a nationally recognized veterinary technician credentialing organization for purposes of credentialing veterinary technicians in this state. The credentialing organization approved by the board must:

(I) [Editor's note: This version of subsection (1)(a)(I) is effective until January 1, 2027.] Require the completion of an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited program for veterinary technicians;

(I) [Editor's note: This version of subsection (1)(a)(I) is effective January 1, 2027.] Require the completion of an accredited program for veterinary technicians;

(II) Require that an applicant pass a veterinary technician national examination approved by the board;

(III) Require continuing education for veterinary technicians; and

(IV) (A) Permit credentialing of provisional registrants who meet the work experience and testing requirements specified in section 12-315-203 (4).

(B) This subsection (1)(a)(IV) is repealed, effective July 1, 2028.

(b) Receive complaints, conduct hearings in accordance with this part 2 and section 12-315-113, and take disciplinary or other actions pursuant to this part 2 and section 12-20-404;

(c) Approve nationally recognized veterinary technician specialist certification organizations for the purposes of designating veterinary technician specialists in this state;

(d) Adopt any rules necessary for the delegation of veterinary tasks to veterinary technicians, veterinary technician specialists, veterinary professional associates, or other personnel and for the supervision of those delegated tasks by a licensed veterinarian;

(e) Require biennial continuing education for veterinary professional associates, as determined by the board by rule, as a condition of renewing registration;

(f) Adopt any rules necessary for determining the scope of practice for veterinary professional associates;

(g) Except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, adopt rules to approve a nationally recognized veterinary professional associate credentialing organization for purposes of credentialing veterinary professional associates in this state in accordance with section 12-315-106 (5)(j); and

(h) Adopt any rules necessary to allow a veterinary professional associate to practice veterinary medicine under indirect supervision in accordance with section 12-315-105.5 (9).

(1.5) The board shall not:

(a) Charge a fee for the designation of veterinary technician specialists in addition to the registration fee charged for veterinary technicians; or

(b) Increase the amount of the registration fee charged for veterinary technicians who seek veterinary technician specialist designation to an amount that is more than the registration fee that is required of other veterinary technicians.

(2) If the board does not approve a credentialing organization for purposes of credentialing veterinary technicians or veterinary technician specialists in this state pursuant to subsection (1)(a) or (1)(c) of this section because there is no credentialing organization that meets the requirements set forth in subsections (1)(a)(I) to (1)(a)(IV) or subsection (1)(c) of this section or for any other reason, the board shall establish by rule and administer a credentialing process for veterinary technician registration or veterinary technician specialist designation pursuant to this part 2.

(3) If the board does not approve a veterinary professional associate credentialing organization for purposes of credentialing veterinary professional associates in this state pursuant to section 12-315-106 (5)(j) because there is no credentialing organization that meets the requirements set forth in section 12-315-106 (5)(j) or for any other reason, the board shall establish by rule and administer a credentialing process for veterinary professional associate registration.

(4) The board may establish by rule an equivalent registration pathway for a veterinary technician specialist to register as a veterinary professional associate, which pathway considers the experience, education, and training of a veterinary technician who is designated as a veterinary technician specialist pursuant to section 12-315-203 (4.5) to be equivalent to the education requirements for a veterinary professional associate required by section 12-315-203.7 (2)(a).

Source: L. 2022: Entire part added, (HB 22-1235), ch. 442, p. 3111, § 21, effective August 10. L. 2024: IP(1) and (2) amended and (1)(c), (1)(d), and (1.5) added, (HB 24-1047), ch. 36, p. 132, § 8, effective August 7. Initiated 2024: (1)(c) and (1)(d) added, Proposition 129, effective January 1, 2026. See L. 2025, p. 3621. L. 2025: (1)(d), (1)(e), (1)(f), and (1.5) amended and (1)(g), (1)(h), (3), and (4) added, (HB 25-1285), ch. 305, p. 1598, § 9, effective January 1, 2026. L. 2026: (1)(a)(I) amended, (HB 26-1198), ch. 79, p. 318, § 5, effective January 1, 2027.

Editor's note: (1) Subsections (1)(e) and (1)(f) were numbered as (1)(c) and (1)(d), respectively, in Proposition 129 but were renumbered on revision for ease of location.

(2) Provisions in this section were changed by Proposition 129, effective January 1, 2026. The measure was approved on November 5, 2024, and was proclaimed by the Governor on December 17, 2024, see L. 2025, p. 3621. The vote count for the measure was as follows:

FOR: 1,572,545

AGAINST: 1,407,814

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.