Veterinary Technician Licensure
Professional Licensure Disclosure
COCC prepares students for jobs that require a license to practice in Oregon. If you plan to work in another state, please check with that state's licensing board. Remember that licensure can help you find a job, even in states that don’t require a license.
Beyond training or licensure, states may have additional requirements including but not limited to: living in the state for a certain amount of time; taking state-approved tests; registering with the state; previous work experience; proof of Oregon state licensure.
COCC provides the information below at the direction of the U.S. Department of Education and National Council for State Authorization Reciprocity Agreement (NC-SARA). Since rules can change, be sure to check the state you want to move to and ask about current guidelines.
| STATE/TERRITORY | COCC SATISFIES REQUIREMENTS? | PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS OR LICENSE AUTHORITY | NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | YES |
Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (ASBVME Office) |
As a college accredited by the AVMA we meet state requirements. |
| Alaska | YES | Alaska Board of Veterinary Examiners | Requires VTNE, courses accredited by AVMA or specific on the job experience per Alaska laws, submit application and fees |
| Arizona | N/A | Arizona State Veterinary Medical Examining Board | To work as a veterinary technician in Arizona, certification is not required; earning a CVT is a voluntary action. If you wish to be certified you must apply with the board. |
| Arkansas | YES | Arkansas State Veterinary Medical Examining Board | Must apply with the board. Must pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination. Can apply for certification by endorsement if licensed in another state. |
| California | YES | California Veterinary Medical Board | Requires "Letter of Good Standing" from all US and Canadian Vet Boards, complete three education pathways or submit "Task List-Proof of Experience form" |
| Colorado | YES, with additional requirements | Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine | Requires application and fees, name change doc(if applicable), criminal history check, CACVT certification or active out-of-state license. |
| Connecticut | YES | Connecticut State Board of Veterinary Medicine | Technicians are not regulated in the State of Connecticut. |
| Delaware | YES, with additional requirements | Board of Veterinary Medicine | Candidates must apply for a temporary license, send test scores, and create an account as detailed here |
| District of Columbia | N/A | District of Columbia Board of Veterinary Examiners | In process of launching application portal, until then Vet Techs not required to be licensed |
| Florida | N\A | Florida Board of Veterinary Medicine | Technicians are not regulated in the State of Florida. |
| Georgia | YES | Georgia State Board of Veterinary Medicine | Licensing not required. For more information, see Georgia General Assembly, O.C.G.A., Title 43, Ch. 50,Veterinary Assistants (§§ 43-50-60 — 43-50-64) |
| Hawaii | YES | Hawaii Board of Veterinary Medicine | Requires passing score for VTNE, application requirements and fees |
| Idaho | YES | Idaho Board of Veterinary Medicine | Must apply with the board. Must pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination. |
| Illinois | YES | Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR) | Reciprocity application and fees |
| Indiana | YES | Indiana Board of Veterinary Medicine | Must apply with board but will accept licensure from other states. Will also accept passing of the VTNE exam. |
| Iowa | YES | Iowa Vet Board | Can apply by exam, licensure verification or endorsement application. |
| Kansas | YES | Kansas Board of Veterinary Examiners | As a college accredited by the AVMA we meet state requirements. |
| Kentucky | YES | Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners | Requires VTNE, paper application, Official transcript/diploma, portrait of applicant, official VTNE scores, background check, disciplinary records if applicable, licensure verifications from ALL jurisdictions past and present plus fees |
| Louisiana | YES | Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine | Requires application, fees, evidence of good moral character, high school diploma or equivalent, passed state and/or national exam for veterinary tech |
| Maine | YES | Board of Veterinary Medicine | Requires application and fees, official transcript, pass VTNE |
| Maryland | YES | Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners | *If they received their degree. |
| Massachusetts | N/A | Board of Registration in Veterinary Medicine | Vet Tech is currently not regulated or licensed in Massachusetts |
| Michigan | YES | LARA - Bureau of Professional Licensing (Michigan Board of Veterinary Medicine) |
Requires application and fees, criminal background check, good moral character documentation, licensure verification, SSN, english language proficiency, additional requirements based on type of application |
| Minnesota | N/A | Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine | Minnesota does not currently license Vet Techs. |
| Mississippi | YES | Mississippi Board of Veterinary Medicine Office | Must pass state board exam |
| Missouri | YES | Veterinary Medicine Board | Requires application and fees, to meet all licensure requirements indicated in rules and regulations, |
| Montana | YES | Montana Board of Veterinary Medicine | Must pass state jurisprudence exam |
| Nebraska | YES | Veterinary Medicine and Surgery DHHS Licensure Unit |
Requires all application requirements and fees, background check |
| Nevada | YES | State of Nevada Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners | Requires licensure from AVMA accredited program and pass VTNE |
| New Hampshire | YES, with additional requirements | Board of Veterinary Medicine | Must pass VTNE via AAVSB |
| New Jersey | N/A | State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners | New Jersey does not currently license Vet Techs. |
| New Mexico | YES | New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine | Must pass state jurisprudence exam. |
| New York | YES | NY State Education Department Office of the Professions State Board for Veterinary Medicine |
Required passing score for VTNE |
| North Carolina | YES | North Carolina Veterinary Medical Board | No Reciprocity, VTNE and NC state examination |
| North Dakota | YES | North Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners | Licensure as a veterinary technician in North Dakota requires a passing score on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE). |
| Ohio | YES | Ohio Veterinary Medical Licensing Board | Requires a passing score on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) and college transcript. |
| Oklahoma | YES | Oklahoma Veterinary Board | Must pass state jurisprudence exam. |
| Oregon | YES | Oregon Veterinary Medical Examining Board | |
| Pennsylvania | YES | State Board of Veterinary Medicine | Requires a passing score on the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) and college transcript. |
| Rhode Island | N/A | Board of Veterinary Medicine | Rhode Island does not license Vet Techs |
| South Carolina | YES | South Carolina Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners | Requires application and fees, college transcript, certified copy of national board examination results, verifications of licensure, recent (6months) of passport type photograph, any fees associated with licensure |
| South Dakota | YES | South Dakota Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners | Requires completion of GED or High School Diploma, application for registration and fees, minimum score of 425 of the VTNE, request must be by SD licensed veterinarian |
| Tennessee | YES | Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners | Paper application and fees, good moral character documents, background check, hold active, valid unrestricted license in another state, actively practice in another state for one year prior to application, two recent photographs of applicant (notarized), official transcript, proof of citizenship |
| Texas | YES | Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners | Requires application and fees completion of a two-year AVMA |
| Utah | YES, with additional requirements | Veterinary Board | Requires application and fees, education requirements and experience requirements |
| Vermont | YES | Board of Veterinary Medicine | The Vermont Board does not license veterinary technicians. They are registered through the Vermont Veterinary Medicine Association |
| Virginia | YES | Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine | Requires completion of requirements for one of two pathways for licensure; by examination or by endorsement |
| Washington | YES, with additional requirements | Veterinary Board of Governors | Requires VTNE, official transcript with degree and date, must list all states where applicant currently and past holds credentials, those jurisdictions must complete and submit the verification form, must answer the personal data questions, successful completion of the Washington State Jurisprudence Examination |
| West Virginia | YES | West Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine |
Must pass the VTNE and register with the state board |
| Wisconsin | YES, with additional requirements | Veterinary Examining Board | Requires application and fees, verification of licensure in any and all states that you have EVER held a license, college needs to mail directly completed Certificate of Technical School/College form, request AAVSB to send score report to WI VEB, take state exam, paper applications same as above and complete Social Security form |
| Wyoming | N/A | Wyoming Board of Veterinary Medicine | Wyoming does not license Vet Techs at this time. Trying to change this. |