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Texas Veterinary Technician — Requirements & Free Practice

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Licensed Veterinary Technician

Texas licence protecting the title "Licensed Veterinary Technician" or "LVT" under Tex. Occ. Code § 801.266; licensure is optional for working as a veterinary technician.

Licensing authority: Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners

Licensure by examination
Age
At least 18 years old (Tex. Occ. Code § 801.265(a)(2); 22 TAC § 571.4(a)(1)).
Application
Apply on the Board form with fees at least 45 days before the examination date; reapply with current fees after a no-show or failing score (22 TAC §§ 571.21, 571.25).
Criminal History
Fingerprints must be submitted before licensure; the Board may refuse a licence to an applicant subject to denial under Tex. Occ. Code §§ 801.401-801.402 (Tex. Occ. Code § 801.265(a)(5); 22 TAC § 571.4(b)).
Education
Graduate of a veterinary technician program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association; the Board page states alternate routes are not accepted (Tex. Occ. Code § 801.265(a)(3); 22 TAC §§ 571.1(13), 571.4(a)(3)).
Exam Sequence
The VTNE must be passed before applying for the LVTE (22 TAC § 571.4(a)(4)).
Former Licensee Expired One Year Or More
A person whose licence has been expired for one year or more may not renew and obtains a new licence by complying with the requirements, including the examination requirements, for an original licence (Tex. Occ. Code § 801.303(d)). Board rule 22 TAC § 571.60(b) also states that such a licensee "may be required to appear before the Board to explain why the licensee allowed the license to expire" and "must take and pass the LVTE", and § 571.60(d) states the licence is cancelled.
No Endorsement
The Board does not license by endorsement or under former reciprocal agreements (22 TAC § 571.31).
Passing Scores
VTNE: at least 75 percent locally derived scaled score; LVTE: at least 85 percent, valid for one year past the examination date (22 TAC § 571.1(8)).
Expedited licensure for military service members, veterans and spouses who held a Texas licence within the last five years
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Disqualification
Not subject to denial under Tex. Occ. Code §§ 801.401-801.402 and has not surrendered a Texas licence in lieu of discipline in the last five years (22 TAC § 571.17(a)).
License Term
The licence is valid for 12 months; on expiry the licensee must show that all requirements for regular licensure are met (22 TAC § 571.17(b)).
Military Status
Military service member, military veteran or military spouse as defined by Tex. Occ. Code § 55.001 (22 TAC § 571.17(a)).
Prior Texas License
Held a Texas licence within the last five years; applies also to such a person whose LVT licence has not been renewed for one year or more (22 TAC §§ 571.17(a), 571.60(c)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2016-06-14.

Expedited licensure for military service members, veterans and spouses holding a current licence from another jurisdiction
Veterinary Technician National Examination
Disqualification
Not subject to denial under Tex. Occ. Code §§ 801.401-801.402 and has not surrendered a Texas licence in lieu of discipline in the last five years (22 TAC § 571.17(a)).
License Term
The licence is valid for 12 months; on expiry the licensee must show that all requirements for regular licensure are met (22 TAC § 571.17(b)).
Military Status
Military service member, military veteran or military spouse as defined by Tex. Occ. Code § 55.001 (22 TAC § 571.17(a)).
Other Jurisdiction License
Holds a current licence issued by another jurisdiction whose licensure requirements include at least a passing score on the VTNE and graduation from a Veterinary Technician Program (22 TAC § 571.17(a)(3)).
Return from inactive status to active status
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Approval
Written Board approval before returning to active status (22 TAC § 571.61(c)).
Continuing Education
If average annual continuing education while inactive is below the renewal requirement, twice the annual hours must be completed in the following twelve months (22 TAC § 571.61(d)).
Fee
Pay the reactivation fee; Veterinary Technician Reactivation fee is $43.75 (22 TAC §§ 571.61(c)(2), 577.15(3)(D)).
Good Standing
A licensee licensed and practicing in another jurisdiction must prove good standing there (22 TAC § 571.61(c)(1)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2019-05-12.

Reinstatement of a surrendered or revoked licence by petition
Texas Licensed Veterinary Technician Jurisprudence Examination
Additional Testing
The Board may also require additional testing to assure competency (22 TAC § 575.22(i)).
Board Decision
Petitioner must appear before the Board or its Enforcement Committee and show good cause; the Board may deny, reinstate on probation, or reinstate (22 TAC § 575.22(c), (e), (f)).
Waiting Period
Petition no earlier than five years after the surrender or revocation unless the order provides otherwise (22 TAC § 575.22(a)).
Renewal of an unexpired licence or a licence expired less than one year
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Ten hours of acceptable continuing education annually (22 TAC § 573.64(a)(3)).
Fingerprints
Fingerprints are required at renewal unless previously submitted (Tex. Occ. Code § 801.309).
Timing
Renew within 90 days of the last day of the birth month; a licence expired 90 days or less renews at 1.5 times the fee, more than 90 days but less than one year at two times the fee (Tex. Occ. Code § 801.303(a)-(c); 22 TAC § 571.60(a)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2016-06-14.

Texas Licensed Veterinary Technician Jurisprudence Examination

Provider
Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
Format
Online examination; approved applicants receive a TBVME candidate ID, purchase and register, and complete the exam in one sitting within 10 days of purchase
Passing score
At least 85 percent; the score is valid for one year past the examination date
Examination outline
  • Texas Occupations Code Chapter 801 (Veterinary Licensing Act)
  • 22 TAC Chapter 571 Licensing
  • 22 TAC Chapter 573 Rules of Professional Conduct
  • 22 TAC Chapter 575 Practice and Procedure
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