Veterinary Job Hub

The VTNE: Veterinary Technician National Examination

Last checked October 25, 2026. Fees and testing windows change; check AAVSB before you apply.

The VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Exam) is the exam most states use to credential veterinary technicians. It is owned by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) and delivered by PSI at test centers or by live remote proctoring. It has 170 multiple-choice questions, 150 of them scored, and you get three hours. Scores run from 200 to 800, and 425 passes. The fee is $375 and the exam is offered in four windows a year, as listed by the AAVSB as of October 2026.

What the VTNE is and who runs it

The AAVSB owns the VTNE and oversees its development and administration. PSI is the AAVSB's exam vendor and runs scheduling and testing. A VTNE Committee with members from the AVMA's accrediting committee (CVTEA), NAVTA, veterinary technician educators, and veterinarians and technicians in practice and education helps keep the exam in line with current practice.

Passing the VTNE does not give you a credential by itself. The AAVSB does not license, certify or register anyone. It sends your score to your state or province, and you apply there for your RVT, LVT or CVT. See the vet tech license by state hub for your state's steps.

Who can take the VTNE

The AAVSB decides your eligibility based on the rules of the jurisdiction that will receive your score. There are three pathways, and not every state accepts all three.

PathwayWho it is forAccepted where
Accredited program graduateGraduates of AVMA CVTEA or CVMA accredited veterinary technology programsAll jurisdictions
On-the-job trained (OJT)People qualifying through work experience only, documented on a form signed by a supervising veterinarianOnly Montana, Wisconsin, Alaska and Utah, per the AAVSB candidate handbook
Alternate pathwayGraduates of programs not accredited by the AVMA CVTEA or CVMA, sometimes with required work experienceSelect jurisdictions; rules vary widely

The AAVSB warns that the OJT and alternate pathways can limit where you can practice later. You may have to take the VTNE again through another pathway to be licensed in a state that does not recognize yours. For the school route, see how to become a vet tech.

How to apply for the VTNE

You apply online with the AAVSB, which creates a MyAAVSB account for you. The application is open year round, but you cannot finish it until your eligibility is confirmed.

  1. Get your eligibility documents to the AAVSB. If you graduated from an accredited program before January 1, 2025, your school sends your transcript directly to the AAVSB. If you graduate after that date, your program director uploads a roster, and you cannot test until you are on it. OJT and alternate-pathway candidates upload their forms and transcripts to the portal.
  2. Wait for the eligibility review. The AAVSB handbook says it can take up to two weeks after all documents arrive.
  3. Pick a window and pay. You choose one of the next two exam windows and pay the $375 fee or use a voucher. Use your legal first and last name exactly as it appears on your unexpired government photo ID.
  4. Schedule with PSI. Once approved, you create a PSI account and book a test center or a live remote proctored exam within your window.

Some programs let students take the VTNE in their last semester. Ask your school whether it takes part in pre-graduation testing. Your state may also have its own application, fees or exams for the credential itself, which are separate from the VTNE.

VTNE testing windows

The VTNE is given four times a year. As listed by the AAVSB as of October 2026:

Exam windowCompleted application cutoff
February 15 to April 15March 15
May 15 to July 15June 15
August 15 to October 15September 15
November 15 to January 15December 15

You must test in the window you applied for, or you lose the fee. You can move to the next window once, for a $90 fee, up to 48 hours before your scheduled exam. Missing your appointment without an approved excused absence also forfeits the fee.

VTNE format: questions and time

You have three hours (180 minutes) to answer 170 multiple-choice questions. Only 150 count toward your score. The other 20 are pilot questions being tested for future exams, and you cannot tell which ones they are. Each question has four choices, there is no penalty for guessing, and you can skip, change and mark questions for review.

The exam is in English. Candidates living in Canada may ask to take it in French.

DomainScored questionsShare
Animal care and nursing3020%
Pharmacy and pharmacology2013%
Surgical nursing2013%
Anesthesia2013%
Laboratory procedures149%
Dentistry107%
Emergency medicine and critical care107%
Pain management and analgesia107%
Diagnostic imaging96%
Communication and veterinary professional support services75%

Source: AAVSB VTNE content outline approved March 2023, as printed in the candidate handbook.

VTNE passing score and score reports

The AAVSB reports VTNE results as scaled scores from 200 to 800. A scaled score of 425 passes. The AAVSB does not report a number or percentage correct, and all jurisdictions accept the scaled score.

You see pass or fail on screen right after the exam. The AAVSB says your score appears in your MyAAVSB portal within three days, and it no longer emails scores. That report is for your own use. The jurisdiction you chose on your application also receives your score within three days. If you think there was a scoring error, the handbook says you can request a manual rescore within 48 hours of your appointment for $50.

Retaking the VTNE

  • Each retake needs a new application and the full fee.
  • The AAVSB's retake page says you can take the VTNE only once in a 30-day period. Its candidate handbook is stricter: at least 31 days after your last attempt, and no more than three times in a calendar year. Plan around the stricter rule and confirm with the AAVSB before you reapply.
  • The AAVSB allows five attempts in total. A sixth or later attempt needs approval from the AAVSB Board of Directors, a letter from your jurisdiction and a written statement of how you prepared. The handbook says that review can take up to 45 days.
  • Some jurisdictions are stricter. The handbook says all Canadian provinces, Indiana, Tennessee and Missouri require their board's approval before a fourth attempt, and Missouri will not accept scores for attempts over four.
  • If you pass, you cannot take the VTNE again unless your state board requires it.

Sending your VTNE score to another state

The jurisdiction you choose on your application gets your score automatically. To send it to a different state or province, use the AAVSB's VAULT transfer services. As listed by the AAVSB as of October 2026, the VAULT First License service, for people applying for their first license, costs $50.

Testing accommodations

If you have a documented disability covered by the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act or the Canadian Human Rights Act, you can request accommodations. Mark the request on your VTNE application. The accommodations deadline is the same as the application cutoff for your window, and reviews can take up to two weeks.

U.S. residents submit an accommodations application with a section completed by a licensed health care provider and supporting documents dated within the past three years, such as a college letter, diagnostic report, IEP or 504 plan. You cannot schedule an accommodated exam until the AAVSB approves it. If you take a standard exam while your request is pending, the request counts as withdrawn and that score stands.

How to study for the VTNE

  • AAVSB practice tests. The AAVSB offers three online practice test versions. Each has 75 questions and runs 90 minutes, and each attempt costs $50, as listed by the AAVSB as of October 2026. You get feedback on your results after each test.
  • Free AAVSB materials. The AAVSB posts 10 sample questions with an answer key, the full content outline of domains, tasks and knowledge statements, a list of common abbreviations and a list of textbook references.
  • Study by domain. Use the domain table above to weight your time. Animal care and nursing alone is 20 percent of the scored questions.

The AAVSB treats exam and practice questions as protected material. Do not copy or share them.

VTNE pass rates

The AAVSB does not post a national VTNE pass rate on its public pages. Accredited programs track their own results: under AVMA CVTEA standards, a program's three-year average pass rate for first-time takers should meet or exceed the national average, and programs must meet VTNE reporting requirements. When comparing schools, ask each program for its three-year first-time VTNE pass rate.

FAQ

How many questions are on the VTNE?

170 multiple-choice questions in three hours. 150 are scored and 20 are unscored pilot questions.

What is a passing score on the VTNE?

A scaled score of 425, on a scale of 200 to 800.

How much does the VTNE cost?

$375 per attempt, as listed by the AAVSB as of October 2026. Moving to the next window costs $90, and your state charges its own credential fees.

How many times can you take the VTNE?

The AAVSB allows five attempts, and only one attempt in any 30-day period. Its handbook also says at least 31 days apart and no more than three attempts in a calendar year. Some jurisdictions, including Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri and the Canadian provinces, require board approval after three attempts.

Can you take the VTNE without going to an accredited school?

Only where your state allows it. The AAVSB lists on-the-job training as valid only in Montana, Wisconsin, Alaska and Utah, and some jurisdictions accept an alternate pathway. Check the state-by-state hub first.

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