If you need help studying for the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) or just want some more information about what the test is like, you’ve come to the right place.
Click below to take a free VTNE practice test!
What’s on the Exam?
How to Register
Exam Scores
Retaking the Exam
Online VTNE Prep Course
FAQs
Exam Eligibility
Before you can register to take the VTNE, you’ll have to meet the eligibility requirements for your jurisdiction. The requirements vary from place to place, so you’ll need to check with your jurisdiction to see what your specific requirements are.
If you meet the requirements, you’re set to begin the registration process!
What’s on the Exam?
First, let’s talk about the questions on the exam. There are 170 multiple-choice questions total, but only 150 of the questions will count toward your score. Why is that?
The 20 unscored questions on the exam are called “pretest” questions. These are added to the exam to determine if they’re good enough questions to add to future versions of the test.
The trick is that you won’t have any way of knowing which questions are scored and which ones are pretest. They will appear just like the scored questions throughout the test.
The time limit for the exam is 3 hours. There aren’t any scheduled breaks, but you’re free to take restroom breaks as needed.
Let’s take a closer look at the different sections of the VTNE.
1. Pharmacy and Pharmacology
20 questions
- Recognizing drug classifications and side effects
- Storing and handling pharmacological, chemical, and biological agents safely
- Calculating dosages, fluid therapy rates, and continuous rate infusions
- Maintaining inventory of controlled drugs, associated logbooks, and medical records
- Dispensing medications as directed by veterinary orders
- Preparing medications according to veterinarian instructions
2. Surgical Nursing
20 questions
- Sterilizing equipment and supplies using methods such as steam or gas
- Maintaining aseptic conditions within the surgical suite and during operations
- Serving as a circulating surgical technician to promote patient safety and procedural efficiency
- Cleaning instruments using appropriate methods
- Getting the patient ready for the surgical procedure
- Preparing the surgical environment, equipment, instruments, and supplies
- Acting as a sterile surgical technician to ensure patient safety and procedural efficiency
- Keeping the surgical environment, equipment, instruments, and supplies prepared for the surgical team and patient
3. Dentistry
10 questions
- Producing diagnostic dental radiographs
- Preparing and maintaining the dental environment, equipment, instruments, and supplies
- Conducting Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT)
4. Laboratory Procedures
14 questions
- Performing laboratory tests
- Preparing and handling specimens and documentation for in-house or external laboratory assessments
- Ensuring laboratory equipment and supplies are maintained for safe and accurate results
5. Animal Care and Nursing
30 questions
- Patient behavioral characteristics
- Restraining patients with or without equipment
- Administering medications through various routes
- Providing a clean, safe, and comfortable environment to support patient health and safety
- Documenting and managing both initial and ongoing evaluations of patients for optimal care
- Conducting clinical procedures for diagnosis and prognosis
- Collecting specimens for internal or external lab evaluation
- Performing nursing procedures and maintaining prescribed treatments
- Maintaining diagnostic equipment and related supplies
6. Diagnostic Imaging
9 questions
- Maintaining imaging equipment and supplies
- Producing and documenting diagnostic images and radiographs (excluding dental)
7. Anesthesia
20 questions
- Maintaining anesthetic equipment
- Monitoring and responding to patient status during all anesthesia stages
- Preparing anesthetic equipment and supplies to maintain operator and patient safety
- Assisting with the development and execution of an anesthetic plan
- Establishing and maintaining a patent airway through endotracheal intubation
8. Emergency Medicine/Critical Care
10 questions
- Performing emergency procedures
- Executing critical care procedures
- Conducting continuous assessments of physical, behavioral, nutritional, and mental status in critical patients
- Triaging patients presenting with emergency or critical conditions
9. Pain Management/Analgesia
10 questions
- Identifying when a patient requires analgesia
- Assisting in the creation and application of a pain management plan
10. Communication and Veterinary Professional Support Services
7 questions
- Maintaining professional communication during interactions with clients and the veterinary team
- Providing assistance during the euthanasia process
- Educating clients about animal care, risks, and side effects to promote animal health and public safety
- Collecting patient information
How to Register
Once you’ve ensured that you meet all of the eligibility requirements, you can register for the exam!
To get started, you’ll need to submit an application on AASVB’s website. The application will ask you for your contact information and any documentation to prove your eligibility (among other things).
When you submit the application, you’ll also need to submit the testing fee, which is $355.
VTNE Study Guide and Flashcards
Get practice questions, detailed study lessons, and complex subjects broken down into easily understandable concepts.
Exam Scores
The test is scored using a scaled scoring method. Here’s how it works:
The reason your raw score is converted to a scaled score is because everyone who takes the VTNE is given a slightly different set of questions. Since everyone has a different arrangement of questions, and because some questions are harder than others, converting your raw score to a scaled score ensures a more even playing field.
Retaking the Exam
If you didn’t get a passing score on your first try, that’s okay! You can retake the test during the next testing period.
Keep in mind that you will have to pay the full testing fee every time you retake the test.
Online VTNE Prep Course
If you want to be fully prepared, Mometrix offers an online VTNE prep course. The course is designed to provide you with any and every resource you might want while studying. The VTNE course includes:
- Review Lessons Covering Every Topic
- 550+ VTNE Practice Questions
- More than 850 Digital Flashcards
- 200+ Video Tutorials
- Money-back Guarantee
- and More!
The VTNE prep course is designed to help any learner get everything they need to prepare for their VTNE exam. Click below to check it out!
FAQs
How many questions are on the VTNE?
The exam contains 170 questions.
Can I take the VTNE without going to school?
In most jurisdictions, you cannot take the VTNE without first graduating from an accredited vet tech program.
What is the time limit for the VTNE?
The exam is timed at 3 hours.
What is the passing score for the VTNE?
You’ll need to get a final score of at least 425 to pass the exam, no matter which jurisdiction you take it in.
How much does the VTNE cost?
The testing fee is $355.
How many times can you take the VTNE?
Every jurisdiction has different restrictions, but you can usually take the exam up to five times.
