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Alaska Veterinary Technician — Requirements & Free Practice

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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

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Veterinary Technician License

License issued by the Alaska Board of Veterinary Examiners under AS 08.98.167 and 12 AAC 68.310 authorizing a person to perform the functions a board regulation permits a licensed veterinary technician to perform under the supervision and direction of a veterinarian licensed under AS 08.98 (AS 08.98.120(a)(1); 12 AAC 68.300).

Licensing authority: Alaska Board of Veterinary Examiners · Application information

Initial veterinary technician licensure (12 AAC 68.310(b)); the only initial issuance route for this license, used also by technicians licensed in another state
Veterinary Technician National Examination
Application and fees
Submit a completed application on the department form (Form 08-4251) and pay the nonrefundable application fee ($100) and license fee ($100) established in 12 AAC 02.350 (12 AAC 68.310(b)(1)-(2)); the license fee may be submitted after VTNE results (Form 08-4251 instructions).
Board discretion and other documentation
The board licenses a qualified applicant in its discretion and may require any other documentation it determines is necessary to decide whether the applicant meets 12 AAC 68.310 (12 AAC 68.310(b), (b)(6)).
Education or training
Document either (A) official transcripts showing successful completion of a veterinary technician training program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association or the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, or (B) employment verification forms (Form 08-4251c) completed by the supervising veterinarian showing at least 700 hours a year for at least two of the three years immediately preceding the date of application, one year of which must be within Alaska; a technician currently licensed in another state who meets the employment verification requirement is not required to have worked one year within Alaska (12 AAC 68.310(b)(4)).
License verification
Verification of licensure as a veterinary technician from each state where the applicant holds or has ever held a veterinary technician license (12 AAC 68.310(b)(7)).
Professional fitness
Answer the professional fitness questions on the application and provide explanation and documentation for each "yes" answer (Form 08-4251, Part VIII).
Professional references
Three letters of professional reference on the department form (Form 08-4251b) stating that the applicant is professionally competent, reliable, and worthy of confidence; at least two from veterinarians licensed in Alaska or another jurisdiction, or, for graduates of a veterinary technician training program within the preceding two years, instructors of that program may substitute; each sent directly to the department (12 AAC 68.310(b)(5)).
Vtne score reporting
The VTNE score must be reported directly from the AAVSB Veterinary Information Verifying Agency (VIVA) to the division; to be scheduled for the VTNE the candidate must be approved by the AAVSB, and an application for licensure is not required by the division before passing the examination (Form 08-4251).
Reinstatement of a lapsed veterinary technician license (lapsed less than five years)
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Lapse limit
A lapsed license is reinstated without examination unless it has remained lapsed more than five years (AS 08.98.200); under AS 08.01.100(d) a license lapsed five years or more may not be renewed, so such a former licensee applies for a new license under the initial licensure route, which requires the VTNE.
Renewal requirements and penalty
Satisfy the renewal requirements, including continuing education, before reinstatement (AS 08.01.100(c)) and pay the delayed renewal penalty fee of $75 for each year a veterinary technician license has been lapsed more than 60 days (12 AAC 02.350(13)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2025-08-16.

Biennial renewal of a current veterinary technician license
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Certification of compliance
Submit a statement of compliance with the continuing competency requirements on the department form at renewal and keep evidence of compliance for three years (12 AAC 68.240).
Continuing education
Certify completion of 10 contact hours of continuing education during the concluding licensing period, or, for a first renewal, five contact hours for each complete calendar year licensed during that period; at least two-thirds in medical programs from sponsors listed in 12 AAC 68.230 (12 AAC 68.220(b), 68.225(b), 68.230).
Renewal fee
Pay the biennial renewal fee for veterinary technicians, $100 (12 AAC 02.350(9)).
Renewal period
Licenses expire on December 31 of even-numbered years; renewal applications for the period ending 12/31/2026 will be available no later than December 1, 2026 (Form 08-4251 general information; Board Applications and Forms page).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2025-08-16.

Veterinary Technician National Examination

Provider
American Association of Veterinary State Boards
Format
Three-hour multiple-choice examination
Exam questions
170 multiple-choice questions; 150 scored operational questions and 20 pilot questions
Examination outline
  • Pharmacy and Pharmacology (13%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to the use of pharmacological, chemical, and biological agents.
    • Prepare medications in compliance with veterinarian's orders.
    • Calculate medications, fluid therapy rate, and continuous rate infusions based on the appropriate dosage in compliance with veterinarian's orders.
    • Dispense medications in compliance with veterinary orders.
    • Maintain controlled drug inventory, related logbooks, and medical records.
    • Recognize classifications of drugs, their mechanisms, and clinically relevant side effects.
    • Store, handle, and safely dispose of pharmacological, chemical, and biological agents.
  • Surgical Nursing (13%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to surgical nursing.
    • Prepare the surgical environment, equipment, instruments, and supplies to meet the needs of the surgical team and patient.
    • Prepare patient for surgical procedure.
    • Function as a sterile surgical technician to ensure patient safety and procedural efficiency.
    • Function as a circulating (non-sterile) surgical technician to ensure patient safety and procedural efficiency.
    • Clean instruments by the appropriate method (including but not limited to manual, soak, or ultrasonic).
    • Maintain aseptic conditions in surgical suite and during surgical procedures.
    • Maintain the surgical environment, equipment, instruments, and supplies to meet the needs of the surgical team and patient.
    • Sterilize equipment and supplies by the appropriate method (including but not limited to steam, gas).
  • Dentistry (7%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to dentistry.
    • Prepare and maintain the environment, equipment, instruments, and supplies to meet the needs of the dental team and patient.
    • Perform Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) (including but not limited to scaling and polishing; manual and machine).
    • Produce diagnostic dental radiographs.
  • Laboratory Procedures (9%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to laboratory procedures.
    • Prepare and maintain specimens and documentation for in-house or outside laboratory evaluation.
    • Perform laboratory tests and procedures (including but not limited to microbiology, serology, cytology, hematology, urinalysis, and parasitology).
    • Maintain laboratory equipment and related supplies to ensure safety and quality of results.
  • Animal Care and Nursing (20%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to patient care and nursing.
    • Document and manage initial and ongoing evaluations of patient to provide optimal care (including but not limited to physical, behavioral, nutritional, clinical procedures, and mentation status).
    • Perform nursing procedures and maintenance of prescribed treatments (including but not limited to catheterization, wound management, and bandaging).
    • Perform clinical procedures to aid in diagnosis and prognosis (including but not limited to blood pressure measurement, electrocardiography, and tonometry).
    • Provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment for patient to ensure optimal healthcare and client/personnel safety.
    • Maintain diagnostic equipment and related supplies to ensure safety and quality of results.
    • Administer medications via the appropriate routes (including but not limited to topical, intravenous, subcutaneous).
    • Collect specimens for in-house or outside laboratory evaluation.
    • Recognize and respond to behavioral characteristics of patient.
    • Restrain patient with or without equipment for treatment following safety protocols.
  • Diagnostic Imaging (6%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to diagnostic images.
    • Produce and document diagnostic images and/or radiographs (excluding dental) following protocols for safety and quality of results.
    • Maintain imaging/radiograph equipment and related materials to ensure safety and quality of results.
  • Anesthesia (13%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to anesthesia.
    • Assist in the development and implementation of an anesthetic plan to ensure patient safety and procedural efficacy.
    • Prepare anesthetic equipment and related supplies to ensure operator and patient safety.
    • Maintain anesthetic equipment and related materials to ensure reliable operation.
    • Establish and maintain a patent airway using endotracheal intubation.
    • Monitor and respond to patient status during all stages of anesthesia (pre-, peri-, and post-).
  • Emergency Medicine/Critical Care (7%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to emergency medicine and critical care.
    • Perform triage of a patient presenting with emergency/critical conditions (including but not limited to shock, acute illness, acute trauma, and toxicity).
    • Perform emergency nursing procedures (including but not limited to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), control acute blood loss, and fracture stabilization).
    • Perform critical care nursing procedures (including but not limited to blood component therapy, fluid resuscitation, and ongoing oxygen therapy).
    • Perform ongoing evaluations of physical, behavioral, nutritional, and mentation status of patient in emergency and critical conditions.
  • Pain Management/Analgesia (7%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to pain management and analgesia.
    • Recognize need for analgesia in patient.
    • Assist in the development and implementation of the pain management plan to optimize patient comfort and/or healing.
  • Communication and Veterinary Professional Support Services (5%)
    • Educate the client about animal care, risks, and side effects to promote and maintain the health of animals and the safety of client/public (including but not limited to behavior, nutrition, pharmacological/biological/chemical agents, dental health, anesthetic procedures, pain assessment/management, pre- and post-operative care, preventative care, zoonosis)
    • Maintain professional communication in all client and veterinary team interactions.
    • Collect patient information (including but not limited to signalment, medical history, primary complaint).
    • Provide assistance with the euthanasia process (including but not limited to consent, aftercare, grief management).
Examination sources