OpenExamsFREE PRACTICE — ANY EXAM

North Dakota Veterinary Technician — Requirements & Free Practice

US-ND · License preparation

400 free questions · Answer explanations · No signup required

Choose what to practice

Start with an exam below. Your examination requirements depend on your application pathway. View licensing requirements

Combined practice

Choose an exam or combined practice to begin.

Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Veterinary Technician License

License to practice veterinary technology in North Dakota issued by the Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners under NDCC 43-29-06 and 43-29-07.1.

Licensing authority: North Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners · Application information

Return from inactive status (NDAC 87 03 02 02(2))
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
The individual may not practice veterinary technology in North Dakota until the continuing education requirements for the years the license was on inactive status are satisfied (NDAC 87-03-02-02(2)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-04-01.

Annual license renewal, including renewal of an expired license within five years (NDCC 43 29 08.1)
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Twelve hours of Board-approved continuing education in the twenty-four months preceding each even-year renewal date (NDAC 87-03-02-01).
Expired License
An expired license may be renewed within five years of expiration by paying the current and all delinquent renewal fees and completing all required continuing education; after five years the holder must apply for a new license (NDCC 43-29-08.1(4)).
Renewal
Complete renewal application, $30 renewal fee and proof of Board-required continuing education by December 31; a late fee of fifty percent applies to late renewals (NDCC 43-29-08.1(2); NDAC 87-03-01-04).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-04-01.

Licensure by examination (NDCC 43 29 07.1)
Application
Board application form, nonrefundable $40 application fee, $30 initial license fee, recent photograph, copy of diploma or other official proof of graduation, verification of any veterinary technology license held in another jurisdiction, and a signed attestation to abide by North Dakota veterinary technology statutes and regulations (NDAC 87-03-01-02(1)(c); Board VT licensure page).
Application Window
An application not completed within one year of initial submission requires a new application and fee (NDAC 87-03-01-02(5)).
Education
Graduate of an approved program in veterinary technology (accredited by the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities or the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association), or completion of a Board-established equivalency program; a graduate of a program that is not approved must be approved by the Board to take the VTNE and the state board examination (NDCC 43-29-07.1(1); NDAC 87-03-01-02(1)(a), 87-03-01-03).
Fitness
No grounds for license refusal under NDCC 43-29-14 and any additional Board requirements by rule (NDCC 43-29-07.1(4)-(5)).
Oral Interview
The Board may require an oral interview (NDAC 87-03-01-02(2); Board Examinations page).
State Exam Eligibility
Approval to take the state board examination follows submission of a completed application; a failed attempt may be retaken after thirty days on repayment of the application fee, a third attempt needs Board approval, and after a third failure the applicant must petition the Board (NDAC 87-03-01-02(1)(d)).
Vtne Timing
For North Dakota licensure a candidate may take the VTNE for the first time no earlier than six months before the expected graduation date; the VTNE is applied for through AAVSB and the score report must reach the Board (Board VT licensure page; NDAC 87-03-01-02(1)(b)).
Licensure without examination for a foreign practitioner (NDCC 43 51 06)
North Dakota Veterinary Technician Licensure Examination
Fitness
Subject to denial or discipline on the same grounds as North Dakota licensees (NDCC 43-51-08).
Foreign Practitioner
Applicant is a foreign practitioner: currently holds a license in good standing to practice veterinary technology in another state or jurisdiction whose requirements are comparable to North Dakota's and is not the subject of a pending disciplinary action (NDCC 43-51-01(2)-(4)).
Practice History
Has practiced veterinary technology under that license for at least two years before applying, or a shorter period provided in Title 43 or by Board rule, and meets the other requirements for a license (NDCC 43-51-06).
State Exam Discretion
NDCC 43-51-06 permits the Board to issue the license without examination and also permits it to require the applicant to take an examination on North Dakota law and Board rules; whether this applicant must sit the state board examination is the Board's decision.
Reinstatement and relicensure after revocation (NDCC 43 29 14(2))
Board Satisfaction
The Board may reissue the license if satisfied the applicant is qualified, meets the existing requirements for licensure (NDCC 43-29-07.1), and will comply with the rules; whether an earlier VTNE or state board examination pass is accepted is the Board's determination (NDCC 43-29-14(2)).
Waiting Period
An individual whose license was revoked may apply for reinstatement and relicensure one year after the date of revocation (NDCC 43-29-14(2)).

North Dakota Veterinary Technician Licensure Examination

Provider
North Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
Format
Online open-book jurisprudence examination
Passing score
80%
Examination outline
  • NDCC Chapter 43-29 - Veterinarians
  • NDAC Chapter 87-01.1-01 - Procedures for Licensure of Veterinarians
  • NDAC Chapter 87-02-01 - Veterinarian Continuing Education Requirements
  • NDAC Chapter 87-03-01 - Procedures for Licensure of Veterinary Technicians
  • NDAC Chapter 87-03-02 - Veterinary Technician Continuing Education Requirements
  • NDAC Chapter 87-04-01 - Prescriptions and Records
  • NDAC Chapter 87-04-02 - Patient Records
  • NDAC Chapter 87-05-01 - Complaints and Peer Review
  • NDAC Chapter 87-05-02 - Unprofessional Conduct
  • NDAC Chapter 87-05-03 - Administration of Professional Health Program
  • NDAC Chapter 87-07-01 - Veterinary Telemedicine Guidelines
Examination sources

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