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.

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:

  • Courtney S. Diehl, DVM, President
    Professional Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2027

  • Carolyn E. Karrh, DVM, Vice President
    Professional Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2027

  • Desiree English, DVM, Secretary
    Professional Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2025

  • Dean Vicksman, DVM
    Professional Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2026

  • Lisa Jacobson, DVM
    Professional Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2025

  • Merri Baldwin
    Public Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2025

  • Riley May
    Public Member | Term Expires: June 30, 2024

  • Rebecca Rose
    Registered Veterinary Technician | Term Expires: June 30, 2027

  • Lynn Ferguson
    Certified Veterinary Technician | Term Expires: June 30, 2027

Public Notices

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. 

 

REQUESTING WRITTEN STAKEHOLDER COMMENTS

The Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine is proposing a new rule regarding Recordkeeping Requirements. The purpose of this request for written comments is to inform stakeholders of the proposed new rule, and allow stakeholders the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed draft rules. Please submit your written comments to dora_dpo_rulemaking@state.co.us by Tuesday, December 27, 2022. 

 

Emergency and Permanent Rulemaking Hearing - October 13, 2022

The State Board of Veterinary Medicine held an Emergency and Permanent Rulemaking Hearing regarding multiple proposed new and revised rules to clarify record keeping requirements and address concerns from the Office of Legislative Legal Services(OLLS); and implement Colorado Senate Bill 22-116 (Concerning the ability of an individual to obtain an occupational credential through the Occupational Credential Portability Program); Colorado House Bill 22-1115 (Concerning the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, and, in connection therewith, making an appropriation); Colorado House Bill 22-1235 (Concerning the continuation of the regulation of veterinary practice by the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, and, in connection therewith, implementing the recommendations of the 2021 sunset report on the "Colorado Veterinary Practice Act" by the Department of Regulatory Agencies, adding registration requirements for veterinary technicians, adding veterinary technicians to the State Board of Veterinary Medicine, allowing certain unlicensed individuals to administer rabies vaccinations, and making an appropriation); Executive Order D-2022-032 (Directing State Agencies to Protect Access to Reproductive HealthCare in Colorado); and Executive Order D-2022-034 (Protecting Colorado’s Workforce and Expanding Licensing Opportunities). 

Legislative Updates
Meeting Minutes