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District of Columbia Veterinary Technician — Requirements & Free Practice

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Veterinary Technician Certificate

Certification by the DC Board of Veterinary Medicine required to practice as a veterinary technician (veterinary nurse) in the District of Columbia under the general supervision of a District-licensed veterinarian.

Licensing authority: District of Columbia Board of Veterinary Medicine (DC Health)

Certification by endorsement: veterinary technician credential held in another United States jurisdiction
Veterinary Technician National Examination
Application Documents
Criminal background check, character references from three non-relatives known at least five years, photo ID, and application fee, per the Board's application checklist.
General Qualifications
D.C. Official Code § 3-1205.03(a): not convicted of an offense related to the occupation; at least 18 years of age; no unrestored revocation or suspension elsewhere; not the subject of a pending disciplinary action in another state.
Jurisprudence
17 DCMR § 11207.1(b): meet the District veterinary jurisprudence requirement of § 11204; the Board's endorsement checklist requires the signed DC Veterinary Jurisprudence Affidavit.
Licensure Verification
Board's By Endorsement checklist: official verifications from every state and jurisdiction in which the applicant has ever held a professional license, sent directly by the licensing boards.
Other Jurisdiction Credential
17 DCMR § 11207.1(a): a veterinary technician license, certificate or registration in good standing in another United States jurisdiction; the § 11202 education requirement does not apply.
Vtne Score Window
17 DCMR § 11203.1: the VTNE passing score must have been obtained no more than seven years before the certification application; § 11203.3: the score is transmitted directly from AAVSB.
Vtne Source Disagreement
17 DCMR § 11207.1 waives only the § 11202 education requirement, while § 11203.1 requires a VTNE passing score 'To qualify for certification'; § 11207.1 itself lists only good standing and the jurisprudence requirement, and the Board's By Endorsement checklist lists 'Verification(s) of Licensure' and the jurisprudence affidavit but no VTNE score. The applicant should confirm with the Board whether a VTNE score is requested.
Certification by examination: graduate of an AVMA CVTEA accredited veterinary technology program
Veterinary Technician National Examination
Application Documents
Criminal background check, character references from three non-relatives known at least five years, photo ID, and application fee, per the Board's application checklist.
Education
17 DCMR § 11202.1: graduation from a two-year associate program in veterinary technology or animal health at an institution accredited by the AVMA CVTEA at the time of graduation.
General Qualifications
D.C. Official Code § 3-1205.03(a): not convicted of an offense related to the occupation; at least 18 years of age; no unrestored revocation or suspension elsewhere; not the subject of a pending disciplinary action in another state.
Jurisprudence
17 DCMR § 11204.1: demonstrate competent knowledge of District veterinary laws and rules; the Board may adopt a District of Columbia Veterinary Jurisprudence Examination or other methods. The Board's checklists require every applicant to complete, sign and upload the DC Veterinary Jurisprudence Affidavit; no jurisprudence examination is identified.
Vtne Score Window
17 DCMR § 11203.1: the VTNE passing score must have been obtained no more than seven years before the certification application; § 11203.3: the score is transmitted directly from AAVSB.
Certification by examination: alternative qualification through education and directed clinical practice
Veterinary Technician National Examination
Application Documents
Criminal background check, character references from three non-relatives known at least five years, photo ID, and application fee, per the Board's application checklist.
Directed Clinical Practice
17 DCMR § 11205.1(b), 11205.2-11205.4: at least 4,000 hours of Directed Clinical Practice under a licensed veterinarian covering the listed skill areas, accrued in no less than two and no more than five years (extension for good cause), proved by the supervising veterinarian's attestation.
Education
17 DCMR § 11205.1(a): at least 230 clock hours of post-secondary instruction relevant to veterinary technician practice with a grade of C or equivalent, including Biology I and II, Microbiology, Chemistry, and Anatomy and Physiology I and II.
General Qualifications
D.C. Official Code § 3-1205.03(a): not convicted of an offense related to the occupation; at least 18 years of age; no unrestored revocation or suspension elsewhere; not the subject of a pending disciplinary action in another state.
Jurisprudence
17 DCMR § 11204.1: demonstrate competent knowledge of District veterinary laws and rules; the Board may adopt a District of Columbia Veterinary Jurisprudence Examination or other methods. The Board's checklists require every applicant to complete, sign and upload the DC Veterinary Jurisprudence Affidavit; no jurisprudence examination is identified.
Vtne Score Window
17 DCMR § 11203.1: the VTNE passing score must have been obtained no more than seven years before the certification application; § 11203.3: the score is transmitted directly from AAVSB.
Renewal of a veterinary technician certificate
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
17 DCMR § 11211.2-11211.3: 14 hours of approved continuing education in the preceding two years, including 2 hours of LGBTQ continuing education and 10% in District public health priority subjects; not required for the first renewal.
Renewal Application
D.C. Official Code § 3-1205.10(d): timely application, continued entitlement to certification, and the renewal fee.
Term
17 DCMR § 11201.1: certificates expire at midnight on December 31 of each odd-numbered year.

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2024-07-19.

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