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Iowa Veterinary Technician — Requirements & Free Practice

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Registered veterinary technician — certificate of registration

Certificate of registration issued by the Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine under Iowa Code section 169.34 authorizing a registered veterinary technician to perform delegated tasks under a supervising veterinarian.

Licensing authority: Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine · Application information

Endorsed certificate of registration for holders of another jurisdiction's credential
Iowa Veterinary Technician State Examination
Application
Endorsement application with $45 fee (811—8.2).
Continuing Education
30 hours of approved continuing education within the last three calendar years, with new-graduate reductions (811—8.6(1)(d)); the Board's endorsement form exempts applicants who passed the Veterinary Technician National Examination within the last three calendar years.
Education
Endorsement application states two years at an AVMA-accredited school of veterinary technology and graduation in veterinary technology, with diploma or official transcript.
Jurisdiction History And Character
Statement of all jurisdictions of credential with consent to release, and character and education information (811—8.6(1)(b)-(c)).
No Pending Discipline
Not subject to an investigation or disciplinary action that may result or has resulted in suspension or revocation (Iowa Code 169.34(2)(b)).
Other Jurisdiction Credential
Valid registration, certificate, license or other authorization issued by a jurisdiction recognized by the Board (Iowa Code 169.34(2)).
Waiver
The Board can waive these requirements under Iowa Code 169.34(2)(e) for active duty military applicants or spouses or former veterinary medical students (811—8.6(2)).
Initial certificate of registration by examination
Application
Complete application in the Board's form with the $45 registration fee (Iowa Code 169.34(1)(c); 811—8.2).
Character And Education
Information or consent to release information on character and education as the Board deems necessary (811—8.1(1)(c)).
Continuing Education
30 hours of approved continuing education within the last three calendar years unless the VTNE was passed within the last three calendar years; new graduates within one year are exempt, 10 hours if applying one to two years after graduation, 20 hours if two to three years (811—8.1(1)(d)).
Education
Graduation from an accredited or approved veterinary technology program (Iowa Code 169.34(1)(a)); the Board's state examination application requires an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program and an official transcript submitted to the AAVSB.
Jurisdiction History
Statement of every jurisdiction in which the applicant is or has been credentialed as a veterinary technician, with consent to release information (811—8.1(1)(b)).
Vtse Attempts
VTSE retake no earlier than 90 days after the last attempt; five total attempts, further attempts at the Board's discretion (811—8.3(2)).
Waiver
The Board may waive any qualification for active duty military applicants or spouses under Iowa Code 272C.4, or for a former veterinary medical student who substantially meets the qualifications (Iowa Code 169.34(1)(e)).
Reissue of an expired certificate of registration
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
Application showing completion of the continuing education hours required for renewal during the prior three years (Iowa Code 169.34(3)(c)).
Fee
Reactivation fee for lapsed or inactive certificate of registration $100 (811—8.2).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2024-07-01.

Triennial renewal of certificate of registration
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Continuing Education
At least 30 hours of Board-approved continuing education each triennium, reported by December 31 of the third year; recent-graduate reductions apply (811—8.8).
Fee
Triennial certificate of registration fee $30; late renewal penalty $50 (811—8.2).
Pre July2024Certificates
A certificate of registration issued before July 1, 2024 remains valid and does not expire (Iowa Code 169.34(3)(d)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2024-07-01.

Registration by verification under Iowa Code 272C.12
Iowa Veterinary Technician State Examination
Application
Registration by verification application with $45 fee (811—8.2, 8.4(2)(a)-(b)).
Discipline
No revocation or surrender under investigation; discipline elsewhere must be resolved; disciplinary documents supplied (Iowa Code 272C.12(1)(e)-(g); 811—8.4(2)(e), 8.4(3)-(4)).
Other Jurisdiction Credential
Currently registered or licensed in at least one other jurisdiction with a substantially similar scope of practice, in good standing everywhere (Iowa Code 272C.12(1)(a); 811—8.4(1)).
Other Jurisdiction Examination
Previously passed any examination required by the other issuing jurisdiction for its credential (Iowa Code 272C.12(1)(d)).
Other Jurisdiction Requirements
The issuing jurisdiction imposed minimum education and any work experience requirements and verifies they were met (Iowa Code 272C.12(1)(c)); verification form sent directly by that jurisdiction (811—8.4(2)(c)).
Temporary License
An applicant required to pass the state-law examination is entitled to a three-month temporary license renewable once (Iowa Code 272C.12(3)(c)).
Waiver
The Board can waive these requirements pursuant to Iowa Code 169.34(1)(e) (811—8.4(2)).
Veteran or military spouse reciprocity
Iowa Veterinary Technician State Examination
Application
Same forms and fees as other reciprocity applicants plus documentation of veteran or spouse status; application expedited (811—15.3(1)-(2); Iowa Code 272C.12A(1)).
Examinations
Must pass any examinations required for licensure; credit is given for examinations previously passed consistent with Board rules (811—15.3(1)).
Scope Equivalence
License granted promptly if the other jurisdiction's scope of practice is substantially equivalent; otherwise additional education or training is identified (811—15.3(3)-(5)).
Status
Veteran as defined in Iowa Code 35.1(2) or spouse of an active duty member of the U.S. military forces, holding an unrestricted license in another jurisdiction (811—15.3(1)-(2)).
Initial registration by work experience from a jurisdiction without licensure requirements
Application
Application through work experience with $45 fee (811—8.5(2)(a)-(b)).
Relocation
Relocated to Iowa from a jurisdiction that did not require a license or registration for the profession, with proof of Iowa residency and proof that no credential was mandatory there (811—8.5(1), 8.5(3)(a), 8.5(3)(d)).
Work Experience
Three or more years of work experience with a substantially similar scope of practice within the four years preceding application, substituting for education and training requirements (Iowa Code 272C.13(1); 811—8.5(3)(b)-(c)).

Temporary license (veterinary technician registration)

Temporary license pending a state-law examination, valid for three months and renewable once for three additional months; veteran or spouse reciprocity also provides temporary licensing for required education or training, subject to board conditions, but excludes applicants who have not passed required examinations.

Licensing authority: Iowa Board of Veterinary Medicine

Temporary license for a verification applicant pending the state law examination
No examination is required for this applicant pathway.
Eligibility
Applicant for registration by verification under Iowa Code 272C.12 who must still pass the VTSE (811—8.4(2)(d)).
Term
Valid for three months and renewable once for an additional three months (Iowa Code 272C.12(3)(c)).

Official no-examination sources

Effective from 2024-07-01.

Temporary license for a veteran or military spouse completing additional education or training
Iowa Veterinary Technician State Examination
Eligibility
Veteran or military spouse reciprocity applicant whose other-jurisdiction scope of practice is not substantially equivalent and who must complete additional education or training (Iowa Code 272C.12A(2)(a); 811—15.3(5)(b)).
Examinations
No temporary license is issued to an applicant who has not passed the required examinations for licensure (811—15.3(5)(a)).
Term
Issued for a specified period on conditions the Board deems necessary; extendable case by case for good cause (811—15.3(5)(b), 15.3(5)(d)).

Iowa Veterinary Technician State Examination

Provider
American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB)
Format
Closed-book, web-based examination of multiple-choice questions
Exam questions
40 multiple-choice questions
Time limit
60 minutes
Passing score
60%
Exam fee
$175 AAVSB examination fee plus $45 Board registration application fee
Examination outline
  • Iowa Code chapter 169 — Veterinary Practice
  • Iowa Code chapter 351 — Dogs and Other Animals
  • Iowa Code chapter 717 — Injury to Livestock
  • Iowa Code chapter 717B — Mistreatment of Animals
  • 811 IAC chapter 1 — Description of Organization and Definitions
  • 811 IAC chapter 8 — Auxiliary Personnel
  • 811 IAC chapter 10 — Discipline
  • 811 IAC chapter 12 — Standards of Practice
  • 811 IAC chapter 13 — Collection Procedures
  • 811 IAC chapter 15 — Military Service and Veteran Reciprocity
Examination sources

Veterinary Technician National Examination

Provider
American Association of Veterinary State Boards
Format
Three-hour multiple-choice examination
Exam questions
170 multiple-choice questions; 150 scored operational questions and 20 pilot questions
Examination outline
  • Pharmacy and Pharmacology (13%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to the use of pharmacological, chemical, and biological agents.
    • Prepare medications in compliance with veterinarian's orders.
    • Calculate medications, fluid therapy rate, and continuous rate infusions based on the appropriate dosage in compliance with veterinarian's orders.
    • Dispense medications in compliance with veterinary orders.
    • Maintain controlled drug inventory, related logbooks, and medical records.
    • Recognize classifications of drugs, their mechanisms, and clinically relevant side effects.
    • Store, handle, and safely dispose of pharmacological, chemical, and biological agents.
  • Surgical Nursing (13%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to surgical nursing.
    • Prepare the surgical environment, equipment, instruments, and supplies to meet the needs of the surgical team and patient.
    • Prepare patient for surgical procedure.
    • Function as a sterile surgical technician to ensure patient safety and procedural efficiency.
    • Function as a circulating (non-sterile) surgical technician to ensure patient safety and procedural efficiency.
    • Clean instruments by the appropriate method (including but not limited to manual, soak, or ultrasonic).
    • Maintain aseptic conditions in surgical suite and during surgical procedures.
    • Maintain the surgical environment, equipment, instruments, and supplies to meet the needs of the surgical team and patient.
    • Sterilize equipment and supplies by the appropriate method (including but not limited to steam, gas).
  • Dentistry (7%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to dentistry.
    • Prepare and maintain the environment, equipment, instruments, and supplies to meet the needs of the dental team and patient.
    • Perform Comprehensive Oral Health Assessment and Treatment (COHAT) (including but not limited to scaling and polishing; manual and machine).
    • Produce diagnostic dental radiographs.
  • Laboratory Procedures (9%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to laboratory procedures.
    • Prepare and maintain specimens and documentation for in-house or outside laboratory evaluation.
    • Perform laboratory tests and procedures (including but not limited to microbiology, serology, cytology, hematology, urinalysis, and parasitology).
    • Maintain laboratory equipment and related supplies to ensure safety and quality of results.
  • Animal Care and Nursing (20%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to patient care and nursing.
    • Document and manage initial and ongoing evaluations of patient to provide optimal care (including but not limited to physical, behavioral, nutritional, clinical procedures, and mentation status).
    • Perform nursing procedures and maintenance of prescribed treatments (including but not limited to catheterization, wound management, and bandaging).
    • Perform clinical procedures to aid in diagnosis and prognosis (including but not limited to blood pressure measurement, electrocardiography, and tonometry).
    • Provide a safe, sanitary, and comfortable environment for patient to ensure optimal healthcare and client/personnel safety.
    • Maintain diagnostic equipment and related supplies to ensure safety and quality of results.
    • Administer medications via the appropriate routes (including but not limited to topical, intravenous, subcutaneous).
    • Collect specimens for in-house or outside laboratory evaluation.
    • Recognize and respond to behavioral characteristics of patient.
    • Restrain patient with or without equipment for treatment following safety protocols.
  • Diagnostic Imaging (6%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to diagnostic images.
    • Produce and document diagnostic images and/or radiographs (excluding dental) following protocols for safety and quality of results.
    • Maintain imaging/radiograph equipment and related materials to ensure safety and quality of results.
  • Anesthesia (13%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to anesthesia.
    • Assist in the development and implementation of an anesthetic plan to ensure patient safety and procedural efficacy.
    • Prepare anesthetic equipment and related supplies to ensure operator and patient safety.
    • Maintain anesthetic equipment and related materials to ensure reliable operation.
    • Establish and maintain a patent airway using endotracheal intubation.
    • Monitor and respond to patient status during all stages of anesthesia (pre-, peri-, and post-).
  • Emergency Medicine/Critical Care (7%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to emergency medicine and critical care.
    • Perform triage of a patient presenting with emergency/critical conditions (including but not limited to shock, acute illness, acute trauma, and toxicity).
    • Perform emergency nursing procedures (including but not limited to cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), control acute blood loss, and fracture stabilization).
    • Perform critical care nursing procedures (including but not limited to blood component therapy, fluid resuscitation, and ongoing oxygen therapy).
    • Perform ongoing evaluations of physical, behavioral, nutritional, and mentation status of patient in emergency and critical conditions.
  • Pain Management/Analgesia (7%)
    • Utilize knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and pathophysiology as it applies to pain management and analgesia.
    • Recognize need for analgesia in patient.
    • Assist in the development and implementation of the pain management plan to optimize patient comfort and/or healing.
  • Communication and Veterinary Professional Support Services (5%)
    • Educate the client about animal care, risks, and side effects to promote and maintain the health of animals and the safety of client/public (including but not limited to behavior, nutrition, pharmacological/biological/chemical agents, dental health, anesthetic procedures, pain assessment/management, pre- and post-operative care, preventative care, zoonosis)
    • Maintain professional communication in all client and veterinary team interactions.
    • Collect patient information (including but not limited to signalment, medical history, primary complaint).
    • Provide assistance with the euthanasia process (including but not limited to consent, aftercare, grief management).
Examination sources