Colorado § 12-315-203 - Application for veterinary technician registration - qualifications - provisional registration - fee - veterinary technician specialist designation - rules - repeal.

§ 12-315-203. Application for veterinary technician registration - qualifications - provisional registration - fee - veterinary technician specialist designation - rules - repeal.

(1) A person who desires to practice as a veterinary technician in this state must file an application for registration with the board, along with the required application fee, in the manner determined by the board.

(2) To be qualified for registration, an applicant must:

(a) Be at least eighteen years of age; and

(b) Demonstrate to the board's satisfaction that the applicant has obtained and maintains in good standing credentialing as a veterinary technician from the veterinary technician credentialing organization.

(3) Commencing January 1, 2023, the board shall issue a registration to a qualified applicant who meets the requirements and qualifications of this section and board rules; except that the board may deny registration to an applicant who has committed an act that would be grounds for disciplinary action pursuant to section 12-315-207.

(4) (a) Notwithstanding subsection (2)(b) of this section, a person working in the role of a veterinary technician on and after January 1, 2023, who does not meet the requirements set forth in subsection (2)(b) of this section may file with the board an application for a provisional registration not later than January 1, 2024, along with the required application fee, in the manner determined by the board.

(b) A provisional registration issued pursuant to this subsection (4) may be renewed, as determined by the board by rule. The provisional registration expires the earlier of:

(I) The date on which the board issues a registration to an applicant pursuant to subsection (3) of this section;

(II) Twenty-eight days after the person has satisfied the requirements in subsection (4)(c)(I) or (4)(c)(II) of this section and is eligible to apply to the credentialing organization for credentialing in this state;

(III) The date on which the board denies the provisional registration renewal application; or

(IV) January 1, 2028.

(c) The credentialing organization shall accept as satisfaction of educational and testing requirements for credentialing a person holding a provisional registration in good standing who applies for credentialing not later than December 31, 2027, and who demonstrates to the credentialing organization's satisfaction that the provisional registrant has either:

(I) Obtained at least six thousand five hundred hours of work experience equivalent to the work performed by a veterinary technician and has passed a national veterinary technician examination approved by the board pursuant to section 12-315-201 (1)(a)(II); or

(II) Has obtained at least nine thousand hours of work experience equivalent to the work performed by a veterinary technician.

(d) A person holding a provisional registration is subject to discipline pursuant to section 12-315-207.

(e) Notwithstanding any other provision in this subsection (4) to the contrary, the board may establish, by rule, a process for and conditions under which a provisional registrant may apply for a hardship extension to extend, to a date not later than June 30, 2028:

(I) The validity of a provisional registration;

(II) The time within which the provisional registrant may satisfy the education and testing requirements; or

(III) The date by which the provisional registrant must apply to the credentialing organization.

(f) This subsection (4) is repealed, effective October 1, 2028.

(4.5) (a) On and after January 1, 2026, a veterinary technician may apply to the board for designation as a veterinary technician specialist as part of an application for a new or a renewal registration as a veterinary technician.

(b) To obtain a veterinary technician specialist designation, an applicant must demonstrate to the board's satisfaction, in the form and manner specified by the board by rule, that the applicant has been awarded a specialist designation or certification from:

(I) An academy recognized by the National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America's committee of veterinary technician specialties, or its successor organization; or

(II) An organization that the board has determined by rule to have equivalent training and educational requirements pursuant to section 12-315-201 (1)(c).

(5) The board shall make available on its website the requirements for credentialing by the credentialing organization, as well as information concerning the veterinary technician registration by endorsement under section 12-315-205 and the occupational credential portability program.

Source: L. 2022: Entire part added, (HB 22-1235), ch. 442, p. 3111, § 21, effective August 10. L. 2024: (4.5) added, (HB 24-1047), ch. 36, p. 132, § 9, effective August 7.

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