Midlevel Practitioners: Current Status and Clinical Impact

This article originally appeared in the Summer 2026 issue of EquiManagement. Sign up here for a FREE subscription to EquiManagement’s quarterly digital or print magazine and any special issues.

The veterinary professional associate (VPA), or midlevel practitioner, is a new role analogous to a physician assistant in human medicine. Proponents describe this role as filling a gap between veterinarians and veterinary technicians and helping address a national shortage of veterinary care, particularly in rural areas. The idea of a midlevel practitioner arose years ago at the Colorado State University (CSU) College of Veterinary Medicine and was recognized by some veterinary industry stakeholders as a solution to providing veterinary care in the face of rising costs, increased demand, and difficulty retaining professional staff, especially within welfare organizations and shelters. The funding for marketing the initiative to voters came mostly from corporate veterinary firms, with strong support from some shelter groups.