Veterinarian License in Colorado

Colorado requires a veterinary degree from an AVMA-accredited school and passage of a third-party examination including the NAVLE. Continuing education is required for biennial renewal. Colorado has no criminal record prohibitions for veterinary licensure, making it more accessible for applicants with past convictions. Military members and their spouses are exempt from certain licensure requirements. The Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine, under the Division of Professions and Occupations (DORA), regulates the profession. Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences in Fort Collins is one of the most prominent veterinary programs in the western United States and a major research institution, with particular strengths in infectious disease, wildlife health, and One Health initiatives. The state's diverse geography supports varied practice environments, from high-altitude ranching communities on the Western Slope to the urban companion-animal market along the Front Range corridor from Fort Collins to Colorado Springs. Colorado's equine industry and growing organic livestock sector add further diversity. The state's ski resort communities also present unique seasonal demand for companion-animal emergency care.