Veterinary technician licensing about to get faster

Recent changes by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) aim to standardize and simplify the national licensing examination process for eligible candidates, helping veterinary technicians become licensed quicker.

The changes include the AAVSB taking over determining eligibility for veterinary technicians who haven't gone through a degree program to sit for the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE).

Several changes to the exam windows, the submission, and the review processes will streamline the Veterinary Technician National Exam application process for all stakeholders now managed by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards, which says this should result in more efficient operations and faster reporting for all candidates, veterinary technician program directors, and member boards.

The VTNE enables state veterinary medical boards and other jurisdictions/licensing entities or boards to make credentialing decisions and ensure veterinary technicians possess the minimal competencies needed to practice.

Adjusting the process

The AAVSB announced in September that it was modifying the VTNE application process and examination windows. This will take effect in 2025 with all examinations and applications.

Jim Penrod, CEO of the AAVSB, told AVMA News that several member boards had asked the AAVSB board of directors to revisit its VTNE eligibility policy, which was created in 2010.

AAVSB staff members had conversations with member boards along with veterinary technician and veterinary technology program directors, allied organizations, and licensure candidates, Penrod said.

"The intent of members was to reduce the time from graduation to achieving a license for veterinary technicians so they could work faster," he said. "Staff gathered all the documentation from stakeholders-such as needs, wants, and preferences-to talk about things in the environment that may impact their decision. The AAVSB board of directors had a thorough discussion and revised the policy. … The board of directors then asked staff to implement, and that's taken a bit of time, because of the intricacies around making that change."

One of the biggest changes is to allow students in programs accredited by the AVMA Committee on Veterinary Technician Education and Activities (AVMA CVTEA) and Canadian VMA Animal Health Technology/Veterinary Technician Program Accreditation Committee to take the VTNE during their last semester of coursework at the discretion of the program they are enrolled in.

"Each program has a different way of teaching. Some teach to the end and this may not be appropriate. Others have a last semester that's more hands on and they gain enough knowledge to take the VTNE at that time. It's up to the schools," Penrod said.

Another change is to allow the AAVSB to review the eligibility of on-the-job trained (OJT) and alternate pathway candidates per each jurisdiction's qualifications to take the VTNE. Previously, jurisdictions would approve these candidates' eligibility for the examination.

"The jurisdictions still approve for licensure," Penrod said. "The jurisdictions that allow for alternate pathways have had this in their statutes and we did not expand it. We're simply providing an administrative service, so we're not opening up eligibility in any other way."

Currently, five allow OJT or alternate degrees for VTNE eligibility: Alaska, California, Montana, Utah, and Wisconsin.

Testing windows and eligibility criteria

In addition, the AAVSB is increasing the total examination windows from three to four annually and expanding these windows from one to two months. Penrod says now there will be more opportunities for candidates to be able to test.

"This also addresses the fact that schools have been moving to not all graduating at same time anymore, so those various graduation dates are in a much more efficient and quicker manner," he said.

Finally, there will now be an open application process, allowing candidates to register for the VTNE at any time, depending on the testing window.

Overall, the AAVSB has made it so that candidates don't have to apply to take the VTNE and then go back to their jurisdiction to apply for licensure.

"This allows candidates to apply directly to us, submit materials they need to for eligibility on our website," Penrod said.

For example, accredited schools will now send list of eligible candidates to the AAVSB. For those with an alternative pathway, such as being on-the-job trained, there is an employer letter that needs to be verified that they have met training needs of particular jurisdiction.

These candidates must also confirm that the jurisdiction where they plan to work will credential veterinary technicians without a degree from an accredited veterinary technology program. Though, there are select times when a governmental regulatory board will make a special exception for the approval of a candidate for eligibility.

For other jurisdictions, there is a work and education component for those graduates coming from schools that aren't accredited.

"So we not only verify the supervisor's approval, but also the transcript from nonaccredited schools. This reduces things so they only have to apply for the exam and demonstrate they are eligible and once they pass, they can be licensed," he said.

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