How to Become a Veterinary Technician in 2026: Step-by-Step
The full route to working as a veterinary technician, in order: program, VTNE exam, state licence and renewal, with timings and what each step costs you.
- $47,380Median pay
- +9%Job growth
- About 2 years (associate); 4 years (bachelor's) -- per BLSTraining
- VTNEExam
- $375Exam fee
Table of Contents
The route, start to finish
Becoming a veterinary technician is a fixed sequence: an approved program, the VTNE exam, then whatever your state requires on top. Here is every stop in order, with realistic timings.
- 1
Check your state's rules
Before enrollingEach state or province sets its own credential (CVT/LVT/RVT), which exam routes it accepts, and whether it also needs a state exam. AAVSB itself does not license anyone.
- 2
Complete an AVMA-CVTEA accredited program
About 2 years (associate)Earn an associate (or bachelor's) degree in veterinary technology. Every jurisdiction accepts the accredited-graduate route.
- 3
Apply to AAVSB for the VTNE
2-6 weeks before a window cutoffApply through AAVSB and pay $375. Your school sends a transcript (before-2025 graduates) or adds you to a program roster (later graduates). Eligibility review can take up to 2 weeks.
- 4
Schedule and pass the VTNE
3-hour exam; results in MyAAVSB within about 3 daysBook with PSI at a test center or by live remote proctoring in one of four windows per year. You need a scaled 425 on 150 scored items across 10 domains.
- 5
Pass any state exam and apply for your credential
Varies by stateSome states add a state or jurisprudence exam and a background check. AAVSB sends your VTNE score to the state board, which issues the credential.
- 6
Renew and keep up CE
Ongoing (state-set cycle)Renew on your state's cycle and complete the continuing education your state requires. Veterinary technician specialty (VTS) credentials are optional later steps.
Step one: the right program
The program is the one step you cannot shortcut. The exam body checks where you trained before it lets you sit, so an unaccredited course can cost you the whole route.
Accreditation: AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (CVTEA); CVMA in Canada
Typical length: About 2 years (associate); 4 years (bachelor's) -- per BLS
Who is eligible to sit the exam
| Route | What you need |
|---|---|
| AVMA-CVTEA or CVMA accredited program graduate | Graduate of an accredited veterinary technology program. Every jurisdiction accepts this route. Graduates before 2025 have their school send a transcript to AAVSB. For later graduates, the program director uploads a roster. Some programs let students test in their last semester. |
| On-the-job trained (OJT) | Work experience only, documented in the MyAAVSB portal. Valid for licensure only in Montana, Wisconsin, Alaska and Utah. The credential may not transfer to other states. |
| Alternate pathway | Graduates of non-AVMA-CVTEA/CVMA programs (includes OAVT- and ATSAQ-accredited programs), sometimes plus required work experience. Transcripts go to AAVSB. Accepted only in select jurisdictions. |
The exam itself
This is the checkpoint the whole route builds towards. The essentials:
Questions: 170 (150 scored)
Time: 180 minutes
Where you test: PSI -- at a PSI test center or by Live Remote Proctoring (LRP); four testing windows per year (Feb 15-Apr 15, May 15-Jul 15, Aug 15-Oct 15, Nov 15-Jan 15)
Passing standard: Scaled score of 425 on a 200-800 scale; AAVSB does not report number or percent correct
Fee: $375
We broke the exam down domain by domain, with the weight of each and what its questions ask, in the VTNE content outline.
Licensure: what your state adds
The VTNE is the national exam most US states and Canadian provinces use to credential veterinary technicians, but AAVSB only runs the exam and reports scores. The state or provincial board issues the credential (certified, licensed or registered, depending on the state) and may add a state exam. Where you qualified matters: OJT-route credentials are recognized only in a few states and may not transfer.
Pay and job outlook
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics files veterinary technicians under “Veterinary technologists and technicians (SOC 29-2056)”. Median means half earn more and half less; pay moves a long way with state, setting and experience, so read this as a benchmark, not an offer.
Keeping the credential
Requirement: Continuing education hours set by the state; the VTNE itself does not expire and is not retaken for renewal
The exam is the step most people underprepare for
ExamCert AI has 1,300 VTNE practice questions with explanations, built around the same outline this page walks through. Work them by domain, find the weak area, and fix it before test day.
Practise VTNE on ExamCert AIVTNE Content Outline 2026FAQ
Do I need a degree to become a veterinary technician?
In most states, yes. You need to graduate from an AVMA-CVTEA accredited program, usually a 2-year associate degree, before taking the VTNE. Only Montana, Wisconsin, Alaska and Utah accept on-the-job training for the exam, and credentials earned that way may not transfer to other states.
What is the difference between CVT, LVT and RVT?
They are the same job with different state titles: certified, licensed or registered veterinary technician. Your state decides which title you get after you pass the VTNE and meet its other requirements.
Are veterinary technicians now called veterinary nurses?
Not in most places yet. NAVTA's Veterinary Nurse Initiative is pushing state laws to adopt a 'registered veterinary nurse' title, and bills have been introduced in states such as Ohio. Until your state changes its law, the legal title stays CVT, LVT or RVT.
How much do veterinary technicians make?
BLS reports a median annual wage of $47,380 (May 2025) for veterinary technologists and technicians. It projects 9% employment growth from 2025 to 2035, much faster than average.
Sources
Figures on this page come from AAVSB and the other primary sources below:
- AAVSB 2023 VTNE Content Outline (PDF)
- AAVSB VTNE Candidate Information Handbook (PDF, 2026)
- AAVSB - Applying to Take the VTNE
- AAVSB - VTNE Overview
- BLS OOH - Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
- AVMA News - Veterinarians, veterinary technicians prioritizing greater collaboration
- NAVTA - Veterinary Nurse/Technician Job Title Use Resources
Checked September 25, 2026. Fees, outlines and eligibility rules change — confirm with AAVSB before you book.