Letters to the Editor

A nuanced view of Prop. 129

Editor:

Proposition 129 aims to create a new mid-level veterinary position called a veterinary professional associate (VPA.) Those wishing to become a VPA would complete a mostly-online master’s degree in veterinary clinical care, in order to “practice veterinary medicine under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian.” This includes diagnosing, prognosing, prescribing treatments and performing surgery. There is currently no credentialing organization, no national competency exam and only one 30-credit-hour master’s program in the nation to oversee this proposed position.