Arizona Veterinary Technician — Requirements & Free Practice
US-AZ · License preparation
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Certified Veterinary Technician
Voluntary Arizona certification for veterinary technicians.
Licensing authority: Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board · Application information
Regular certification
All of the following:
- Education
- Graduation from an approved two-year veterinary technology curriculum or an equivalent accepted by the Board.
- Minimum Age
- 18 years
- Transfer
- Applicants transferring certification from another state must take the Arizona State CVT Exam.
- Vtne Score
- A passing VTNE score is required. If it is more than five years old, the applicant must retake the VTNE unless the statutory active-license and employment conditions for the retake exception are met.
Universal Recognition
- Out Of State Credential
- Applicant is currently licensed or certified in another U.S. state in the same discipline and at the same practice level for at least one year.
- Prior Qualifications
- Applicant met the applicable education, work, examination, and clinical-supervision requirements in the original licensing state.
- Residency
- Applicant is an Arizona resident.
- Standing
- Applicant is in good standing in every jurisdiction, has no qualifying revocation or surrender while under investigation, and has no pending unprofessional-conduct matter.
- Vtne
- The Board does not require the applicant to pass the VTNE before applying through Universal Recognition.
Arizona veterinary technician examination
- Provider
- Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board
- Format
- Open-book examination emailed to the applicant
- Exam questions
- 50 true/false questions
- Time limit
- Two weeks to complete and return
- Passing score
- 70%
Examination outline
- Arizona Revised Statutes, Title 32, Chapter 21 — Veterinarians (Arizona Veterinary Practice Act)
- Arizona Administrative Code, Title 3, Chapter 11 — Veterinary Medical Examining Board
Examination sources
- Arizona CVT Application Packet
State exam content boundary
- Arizona Veterinary Practice Act
Cover and table of contents heading
- Arizona Administrative Code, Title 3, Chapter 11
Title and authority heading
- Arizona CVT Application Packet
State exam format and content paragraph
- Arizona Administrative Code, Title 3, Chapter 11
R3-11-604(B), passing score
- Arizona Veterinary Medical Examining Board CVT page
Next State CVT Exam, application deadline and delivery
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
- AAVSB 2023 Veterinary Technician National Examination Content Outline
Pages 1-6, complete content outline; approval footer on each page
- VTNE Candidate Info Handbook
Content, page 6
- VTNE Candidate Info Handbook
How To Apply & Eligibility Review, pages 11-12; Scheduling Your VTNE, page 19
- VTNE Candidate Info Handbook
Scheduling Your VTNE, page 19