NC Veterinary Technician State Exam

PLEASE NOTE: The State Exam is required for 'ALL' technicians seeking licensure in North Carolina as we do not accept reciprocity. You do NOT have to be a resident of NC to become registered.

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ELIGIBILITY / REQUIREMENTS:

1. One must have graduated from an American Veterinary Medical Association Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (AVMA CVTEA) accredited program.
   CANADIAN RECOGNITION: As of June 2006, the AVMA approved a recommendation that veterinary technician credentialing entities in the US recognize graduates of Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) accredited veterinary technology programs as eligible for credentialing. In turn, the CVMA recommends that Canadian provincial licensing bodies recognize graduates of AVMA accredited veterinary technology programs as being eligible for licensure. As always, eligibility for licensure/registration/certification of veterinary technicians is the purview of each state and provincial credentialing agency.
2. One must have a passing score on the VTNE.  
   ANNOUNCEMENT re: Taking VTNE Prior to Graduation: Starting August 1, 2023 vet tech students are eligible to take the VTNE six (6) months prior to graduation. NOTE: The NCVMB requires a letter of academic standing from the school to show the candidate's anticipated graduation date in order to approve applicant to take the VTNE. (This is the applicant's responsibility.) Have the school email the letter to Janice@ncvmb.org or mail it to: NCVMB, 1611 Jones Franklin Rd., Suite 106, Raleigh, NC 27606
   
3. One is NOT eligible to take the NC State Exam until their application is complete, which includes receiving all required documents. NEW GRADS: You are NOT eligible to take the STATE exam before graduation; a degree conferred transcript is one of the required documents.
4. LICENSING INFORMATION FOR ACTIVE MILITARY (and their spouses):
   We recognize SCRA. Application refund available if eligible, please send copy of proof of Active Status to Janice@ncvmb.org after your Exam application has been submitted.
   
   AAVSB: Military PCS Assistance
5. One does NOT need to be a resident of North Carolina to apply/hold a vet tech registration.
6. Consent to criminal history check. Failure to consent to a criminal history record check will result in the denial of your application pursuant to NCGS 93B-8.1(c).
   Factors considered by the Board when making a determination of licensure:         
   a)  The level and seriousness of the crime.
   b)  The date of the crime.
   c)  The age of the person individual at the time of the crime.
   d)  The circumstances surrounding the commission of the crime, if known.
   e)  The nexus between the criminal conduct and the prospective duties of the applicant as a licensee.
   f)  The prison, jail, probation, parole, rehabilitation, and employment records of the applicant since the date the crime was committed.
   g)  The completion of, or active participation in, rehabilitative drug or alcohol treatment.
   h)  A Certificate of Relief granted pursuant to G.S. 15A-173.2.
   i)  The subsequent commission of a crime by the applicant.
   j)  Any affidavits or other written documents, including character references.
   
   

   If the Board denies your application for licensure based in whole or in part because of a criminal conviction you may appeal the decision pursuant to Chapter 150B of the General Statutes.

 

DOCUMENTS REQUIRED:

Documents DO NOT have to be received before submitting exam application.

1. A 'degree conferred' transcript. Document to be mailed or e-mailed FROM THE SCHOOL to the Board office. E-mail to Janice@ncvmb.org or mail to: NCVMB, 1611 Jones Franklin Rd., Suite 106, Raleigh, NC 27606
2. A VTNE score - available via the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) Document to be e-mailed FROM AAVSB to the Board. E-mail to Janice@ncvmb.org
   NOTE: New graduates who applied for the VTNE thru NC will have a copy of their score sent to the Board office automatically; it takes 4-5 weeks from exam date for results to be received.
3. License verification(s) from any state in which you held a veterinary technician registration, whether it is currently Active or NOT Active. All verifications must be no older than six (6) months of your application date.
   Document(s) to be mailed or e-mailed FROM THE STATE BOARD / AGENCY to the Board office. E-mail to Janice@ncvmb.org or mail to: NCVMB, 1611 Jones Franklin Rd., Suite 106, Raleigh, NC 27606
   NOTE: We are aware of Colorado's and Illinois' policy re: license verifications. Once your application is submitted, a Board team member will obtain one on your behalf.
4. Copy of your Social Security Card - you upload upon application; website is secure
   
5. If you have a maiden/former name in which documents will be received under, a copy of a legal document will be required (e.g. marriage certificate, divorce papers, etc.).
   
   

AAVSB has a Credentialing Service (Premium VAULT) and for a fee, will request all documentation on your behalf; the exception may be some school transcripts.

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NC VETERINARY TECHNICIAN STATE EXAM PROCESS

The NC State exam, which is administered on-line by a third party vendor, consists of 50 questions and is based on the PRACTICE ACT (General statutes and Administrative Rules) governing the practice of veterinary medicine in North Carolina in addition to information found on the Board's FAQ web site page under PROFESSIONALS (no need to open links). There are 30 True/False and 20 Multiple Choice questions; passing score is 75. You are given 30 minutes to take the exam with no option to pause. The NCVMB fee is $50 and is non-refundable or applicable toward a future exam.

SAMPLE EXAM QUESTIONS

NOTE: There is no need to commit to memory the FEES established by the Board (Administrative Code .0108).

BE AWARE THAT ONCE YOU BECOME REGISTERED, YOU WILL BE REQUIRED TO RENEW AT THE END OF THE 2ND CALENDAR YEAR; we do not pro-rate CE if registered towards the latter part of the 1st year. CE Requirement

EXAM RESULTS are reported weekly, typically by Wednesday the following week of taking the exam; if it falls on a holiday, it will be reported the following day(s).

Is becoming registered a TIME SENSITIVE matter for you?
Once eligible to take exam AND you have been contacted by AAVSB/TesTrac, be sure to take exam before Sunday so your results will be sent to Board the following week.

STEP-1:
NC Exam Application Process     FEE: $50
(1.) To apply for the State Exam, one must first create an account via the Licensure Gateway. Once registered, you will log back in and select the Veterinary Technician State Exam application to submit. Once application has been submitted, you have six (6) months to complete the exam or else you will be required to re-apply.
(2.) Once the application has been submitted to the Board, the applicant will be able to log back into the Licensure Gateway 24/7 to check on their application status (e.g. which documents have been received or are pending).
(3.) When your exam file with the Board is complete and all required documents have been received and all obligations have been met, a Board team member will notify you via e-mail of your application status AND contact AAVSB to inform them of your eligibility for the on-line exam on Tuesday of each week.
(4.) Exam fees are non-refundable.

NEW GRADS: You may submit an exam application before graduation but keep in mind, you have 6-months to complete the registration process once you submit an application. Starting August 1, 2023 vet tech students are eligible to take the VTNE six (6) months prior to graduation.

Study the PRACTICE ACT (General statutes & Administrative Rules) in addition to the information found on the Board's FAQ web site page under PROFESSIONALS (no need to open links). There is no need to commit to memory the Fees established by the Board (Administrative Code .0108).

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STEP-2:
CMS (TESTWise) On-line Exam Application Process      FEE: $50  
CREDIT CARDS ACCEPTED: VISA, MasterCard, Discover and American Express

(4.) AAVSB will contact you via e-mail within 1 to 2 days of receiving your name to provide a link that will allow you to sign in and purchase the NC state exam.  Once payment has been received, the exam link will be available on your payment receipt.  This link will redirect you to CMS (TESTWise) and require you to create a login. It is MANDATORY for you to use the name and e-mail address you registered with the NCVMB. Once you are logged in, the exam will be available to take.
(5.) Exams are taken on-line from your personal computer (open book) and can be taken only once per purchase. You are given 30 minutes to take the exam with no option to pause. At the end of the exam, you will know your results.
(6.) IMPORTANT: Add AAVSB's address (spa@aavsb.org) to your contacts so you won’t miss timely e-mails; there's less likelihood of your notification going into your Junk/Spam folder.
(7.) AAVSB provides official score reports to the NCVMB weekly, typically by Tuesday or Wednesday the following week of taking the exam. The NCVMB will notify you of your Registration number via e-mail within 1 - 3 business days of receiving your results.

 

EXAM RETAKE PROCEDURE: AAVSB will notify you within 7 - 8 days to inquire if you are interested in retaking the State Exam.

(1.) Technicians renew biennially (every 2 years); the renewal window opens the first of November. You are exempt from CE requirements for your FIRST renewal cycle if you graduate the same year you become licensed in North Carolina.
(2.) The NC Veterinary Health Program (NCPHP Link) is available for you or someone you work with who needs help with chemical dependency or substance abuse. The call can remain anonymous.

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If ADA accommodations are needed to take an exam:

The AAVSB application and instructions are available on the AAVSB website’s Jurisprudence Assistance section https://aavsb.org/licensure-assistance/jurisprudence-assistance/apply-for-your-jurisdictions-assessment/.  Once AAVSB reviews your ADA application, they will respond via e-mail within 2 - 4 business days.

For any specific question(s), please email the AAVSB at spa@aavsb.org.

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NATIONAL EXAM INFORMATION

VTNE: Veterinary Technician National Examination
The VTNE is a requirement for registration as a veterinary technician in North Carolina. The exam consists of 150 multiple choice operational items and 20 multiple choice pilot items. The candidate's score is based on the candidate's responses to the 150 operational items; the remaining 20 pilot items embedded in the test will not count towards one's score. The pilot questions will be used in constructing future examinations. This exam is offered at computer testing centers throughout North America and at certain overseas sites operated by PSI.

ANNOUNCEMENT re: Taking VTNE Prior to Graduation: Starting August 1, 2023 vet tech students are eligible to take the VTNE six (6) months prior to graduation. NOTE: The NCVMB requires a letter of academic standing from the school to show the candidate's anticipated graduation date in order to approve applicant to take the VTNE. (This is the applicant's responsibility.) Have the school email the letter to Janice@ncvmb.org or mail it to: NCVMB, 1611 Jones Franklin Rd., Suite 106, Raleigh, NC 27606

• How to prepare for the VTNE

The VTNE Eligibility Process
The NC Board no longer has the responsibility to approve VTNE applicants unless you're taking exam before graduating. (If you are, refer to announcement above.) You will need to contact the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) for questions you may have concerning the approval process and/or the requirements AAVSB. The approval deadline is determined by AAVSB so please adhere to their time sensitive dates.

Candidate Eligibility Policy
A candidate is permitted to take the VTNE five (5) times. You must apply to the AAVSB Board of Directors for approval to take the exam for each attempt beyond five (5) attempts. E-mail vettech@aavsb.org for instructions.

EXAM WINDOWS

• Mid-March through mid-April
• Mid-July through mid-August
• Mid-November through mid-December