Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Medicine Frequently Asked Questions
Information about the Board of Veterinary Medicine including licensure, Peer Assistance Services, and much more.
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Veterinary Medicine Frequently Asked Questions
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Veterinary HOME

Welcome to the State Board of Veterinary Medicine Homepage

The State Board of Veterinary Medicine regulates and licenses/registers veterinarians and veterinary technicians in the State of Colorado. 

The Board's mission is to safeguard the health, safety, and welfare of the people and animals of Colorado by establishing and enforcing professional standards through the development and maintenance of rules and policies to ensure that only qualified persons are licensed/registered to provide veterinary care and that violators of the laws and rules regulating veterinary medicine are sanctioned as appropriate.

Board activities include licensing and registering veterinarians and veterinary technicians, investigating complaints about the licensed/registered and unlicensed/unregistered practice of veterinary medicine, disciplining violators of the law and/or Board's Rules, and making, amending, and adopting reasonable rules and regulations that govern the conduct of veterinarians and veterinary technicians. The Board is made up of nine members: five veterinarians, two veterinary technicians (starting in 2023) and two public members.

Proposition 129: Establishing Veterinary Professional Associates was passed by Colorado voters on November 5, 2024. The State Board of Veterinary Medicine is currently working to implement this law, which becomes effective January 1, 2026. The next step in the implementation process is rulemaking. You may sign up for rulemaking notifications here.

For more information on Proposition 129, please visit the Proposition 129 information page.

Program Information

Program/Board Members

Karen Phelan, Program Director

State Board of Veterinary Medicine
1560 Broadway, Suite 1350
Denver, CO 80202

Phone: 303-894-7800  |  Fax: 303-894-7764  |  Email: dora_veterinarymedicineboard@state.co.us

 

Board Members:

  • Carolyn E. Karrh, DVM, President
    Professional Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2027
  • Desiree English, DVM, Vice President
    Professional Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2025
  • Dean Vicksman, DVM, Secretary
    Professional Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2026
  • Catherine Kuntz, DVM
    Professional Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2027
  • Lisa Jacobson, DVM
    Professional Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2025
  • Heather Cammisa
    Public Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2025
  • Anna Stout
    Public Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2028
  • Rebecca Rose
    Registered Veterinary Technician | Term Expires: June 30, 2027
  • Lynn Ferguson
    Registered Veterinary Technician | Term Expires: June 30, 2027
Public Notices

Veterinary Medicine Board – Permanent Rulemaking Hearing – April 10, 2025

The Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine will hold a Permanent Rulemaking Hearing on April 10, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. (MDT), regarding proposed revisions to Rule 1.8 – VETERINARY TECHNICIAN REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS – The purpose is to provide reinstatement requirements for expired Provisional Veterinary Technician or PVT registrations.  

 

Veterinary Medicine Board – Stakeholder Meeting – March 7, 2025

The purpose of this Stakeholder Meeting is for the Board to receive feedback on proposed additions and revisions to the Rules and Regulations in relationship to implementing Colorado House Bill 24-1047 (CONCERNING THE SCOPE OF PRACTICE FOR VETERINARY TECHNICIANS, AND, IN CONNECTION THEREWITH, DIRECTING THE STATE BOARD OF VETERINARY MEDICINE TO PROMULGATE RULES REGARDING THE SUPERVISION OF AND THE DELEGATION OF CERTAIN TASKS TO VETERINARY TECHNICIANS, VETERINARY TECHNICIAN SPECIALISTS, OR OTHER PERSONNEL BY A LICENSED VETERINARIAN AND ESTABLISHING A VETERINARY TECHNICIAN SPECIALIST DESIGNATION) and Proposition 129 (Establishing Veterinary Professional Associates). Please reference the Board of Veterinary Medicine Practice Act here.

 

Veterinary Medicine Board – Emergency Rulemaking Hearing – February 13, 2025

The Board of Veterinary Medicine will hold an Emergency Rulemaking Hearing on Thursday, February 13, 2025, at 9:00 A.M. to allow stakeholders an opportunity to testify before the Board determines on proposed revisions to Rule 1.8 – VETERINARY TECHNICIAN REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS – The purpose is to provide reinstatement requirements for expired Provisional Veterinary Technician or PVT registrations.

 

Veterinary Medicine Board - Request for Stakeholder Written Comments

The Colorado Veterinary Medicine Board is requesting feedback regarding proposed revisions to Rule 1.8 – VETERINARY TECHNICIAN REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS – The purpose is to provide reinstatement requirements for expired Provisional Veterinary Technician or PVT registrations. Please submit written comments to dora_dpo_rulemaking@state.co.us by February 11, 2025; however, the Board will continue to accept written comments until the Emergency Rulemaking Hearing on February 13, 2025 and the Permanent Rulemaking Hearing on April 10, 2025. Written comments will be posted on the Board's website, under the "Public Notices" tab, as received for all stakeholders to access and review.  

 

Permanent Rulemaking Hearing - October 12, 2023

The purpose of this Permanent Rulemaking Hearing is to allow stakeholders a final opportunity to testify before the Board determines whether to repeal on a permanent basis Rule 1.21 - PROTECTIONS FOR PROVISION OF REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH CARE IN COLORADO to implement Colorado Senate Bill 23-188 (Concerning Protections for Accessing Reproductive Health Care) and Rule 1.22 - PROTECTING COLORADO’S WORKFORCE AND EXPANDING LICENSING OPPORTUNITIES to implement Colorado Senate Bill 23-265 (Concerning a Prohibition on a Regulator Imposing Discipline Against a Person Based on Certain Activities Involving Marijuana).

 

REQUESTING WRITTEN STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS 
Implementation of Colorado Senate Bills 23-188 and 23-265

What is this about?
 

The following Boards and Programs within the Division of Professions and Occupations are requesting written comments regarding the implementation of Colorado Senate Bills 23-188 (CONCERNING A PROHIBITION ON A REGULATOR IMPOSING DISCIPLINE AGAINST A PERSON BASED ON CERTAIN ACTIVITIES INVOLVING MARIJUANA) and 23-265 (CONCERNING A PROHIBITION ON A REGULATOR IMPOSING DISCIPLINE AGAINST A PERSON BASED ON CERTAIN ACTIVITIES INVOLVING MARIJUANA), and the proposed repeal of the Board and Program rules that are no longer necessary after the codification of these regulations into law. 

Each of the listed Boards and Programs will hold a Permanent Rulemaking Hearing on the dates listed to determine whether to repeal the rules on a permanent basis to implement the law.  Please submit written comments as soon as possible. The Boards and Programs will continue to accept written comments until the Permanent Rulemaking Hearings where stakeholders will be given a final opportunity to testify before the Board and/or the Director or Director's designee. Please visit the Board and Program websites under the "Public Notices" tab for the most current information, including webinar registration information, written comments (SB23-188 and SB23-265), and the draft rules. 

 

Joint Stakeholder Meeting - Opioid Guidelines - July 17, 2023

The Colorado State Board of Pharmacy, Colorado Dental Board, Colorado Medical Board, Colorado State Board of Nursing, Colorado State Board of Optometry, Colorado Podiatry Board, and Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine are holding a virtual Stakeholder Meeting on July 17, 2023, for stakeholders to provide feedback regarding Colorado’s Guidelines for the Safe Prescribing and Dispensing of Opioids as these guidelines relate to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) updated Clinical Practice Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Pain.

 

Permanent Rulemaking Hearing - February 9, 2023

The Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine will hold a Permanent Rulemaking Hearing to allow stakeholders a final opportunity to provide testimony before the Board considers adopting a proposed new rule regarding Recordkeeping Requirements. 

 

Legislative Updates
Meeting Minutes