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Pennsylvania Veterinary Technician — Requirements & Free Practice

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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.

Certified Veterinary Technician

Pennsylvania certification of veterinary technicians (CVT) issued by the State Board of Veterinary Medicine under the Veterinary Medicine Practice Act and 49 Pa. Code Chapter 31, Subchapter A.

Licensing authority: Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medicine · Application information

Licensure by endorsement under Act 41 of 2019 (63 Pa.C.S. § 3111)
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Competency
Demonstrates competency through methods determined by the Board, including continuing education or experience in the profession for at least two of the five years preceding the application (63 Pa.C.S. § 3111(a)(2)).
Conduct And Standing
No act constituting grounds for refusal, suspension or revocation, and in good standing without discipline in the issuing jurisdiction, unless the Board in its discretion determines otherwise (63 Pa.C.S. § 3111(a)(3)-(4)).
Fee
Pays the fees established by the Board by regulation (63 Pa.C.S. § 3111(a)(5)).
Out Of State Credential
Holds a current license, certificate, registration or permit from another state, territory or country whose requirements the Board determines are substantially equivalent to or exceed Pennsylvania's (63 Pa.C.S. § 3111(a)(1)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2026-09-22.

Biennial renewal of certification
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Affidavit of attendance at 16 hours of continuing education every 2 years (49 Pa. Code § 31.36(a); 63 P.S. § 485.18).
Fee
Biennial renewal fee in 49 Pa. Code § 31.41 ($100); a $5 late fee per month applies to practice beyond the renewal date (49 Pa. Code § 31.36(a)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2019-12-28.

Certification by endorsement (Board rule, waiver of the VTNE sitting)
Veterinary Technician National Examination
Application
Application for certification by endorsement on Board forms, with a copy of the state credential and a letter of good standing from that state's certifying or licensing authority, and the required fee (49 Pa. Code §§ 31.33(b), 31.35(d)).
Board Discretion
The Board may waive the VTNE sitting in Pennsylvania when the applicant meets all requirements of the act and the conditions of 49 Pa. Code § 31.35(c).
Education
Successful completion of a program at an approved school for the training and education of veterinary technicians (49 Pa. Code § 31.35(c)(3)).
Out Of State Credential
Holds a license, registration or certificate as an animal health technician or veterinary technician in another state whose requirements are at least equal to Pennsylvania's (49 Pa. Code § 31.35(c)(3)).
Prior Equivalent Examination
Instead of a passed VTNE, the rule accepts a comprehensive examination equivalent to the VTNE taken before the VTNE was offered; that earlier examination is not currently offered (49 Pa. Code § 31.35(c)(3)).
Certification by examination
Veterinary Technician National Examination
Application
Completed and signed application for veterinary technician certification filed with the Board, with the application fee in 49 Pa. Code § 31.41 (the Board snapshot states $35.00) (49 Pa. Code §§ 31.32(a)(1), 31.33(a)).
Education
Evidence of satisfactory completion of a program at an approved school (AVMA-accredited, including provisionally and probationally accredited programs) for the training and education of veterinary technicians (49 Pa. Code § 31.32(a)(3), § 31.1).
Examination Application
The VTNE application and fee are filed directly with the professional testing organization; satisfactory VTNE performance is as determined by the Board (49 Pa. Code §§ 31.32(a)(2), 31.33(a)).
Examination Eligibility
To sit the VTNE the applicant must be a graduate of an approved school or a final-year student who has completed at least half of the program's credit hours (49 Pa. Code § 31.34).
Good Standing
A letter of good standing from the licensure board of each state where the applicant has held a veterinary technician license, if any (49 Pa. Code § 31.32(a)(4)).
Other Documents
Other relevant documents as requested by the Board (49 Pa. Code § 31.32(a)(5)).
Reactivation of certification from inactive status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Compliance with the continuing education requirements in effect at the time of reactivation (49 Pa. Code § 31.36(c)).
Fee And Affidavit
Payment of the current renewal fee and an affidavit setting forth the period of non-practice in Pennsylvania (49 Pa. Code § 31.36(c)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2019-12-28.

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