OpenExamsFREE PRACTICE — ANY EXAM

Montana Veterinary Technician — Requirements & Free Practice

US-MT · License preparation

411 free questions · Answer explanations · No signup required

Choose what to practice

Start with an exam below. Your examination requirements depend on your application pathway. View licensing requirements

Combined practice

Loading selected examination banks…

Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements

Each license and applicant pathway has its own requirements and exemptions. Choosing practice questions does not determine your eligibility.

Licensed Veterinary Technician

Montana license required to practice as a veterinary technician (37-18-701, MCA); issued by the Board of Veterinary Medicine since January 1, 2023.

Licensing authority: Montana Board of Veterinary Medicine · Application information

Licensure by examination graduate of an AVMA accredited veterinary technology program
Additional Board Requirements
Meet any additional requirements the Board sets by rule (37-18-701(2)(c), MCA).
Application
File the online application on the form furnished by the department and pay the $150 application fee (37-18-701(2)(a), MCA; Board LVT checklist); the department offers no paper application.
Bsvta Transfer
Current Big Sky Veterinary Technician Association (BSVTA) certificate holders who completed the required BSVTA continuing education may have proof of education and/or hours and VTNE scores transferred from BSVTA to the Board (Board LVT information document).
Education
Graduate of a program accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (37-18-701(3)(a), MCA; ARM 24.225.601(1)(a)); certified transcripts sent directly to the department by the college or university or by AAVSB (Board LVT checklist).
Jurisprudence Score
Pass the Board jurisprudence examination with a score of 90 percent or greater; an applicant who fails it three times may submit a written request to the Board to retake it a fourth time (ARM 24.225.601(3)).
License Verification
Official license verification from every state or jurisdiction in which the applicant holds or has ever held a professional license of any type (Board LVT checklist).
Vtne Results
VTNE results must be sent directly to the department from AAVSB (Board LVT checklist).
Licensure by examination experience pathway for applicants who are not graduates of an AVMA accredited program
Additional Board Requirements
Meet any additional requirements the Board sets by rule (37-18-701(2)(c), MCA).
Application
File the online application on the form furnished by the department and pay the $150 application fee (37-18-701(2)(a), MCA; Board LVT checklist); the department offers no paper application.
Bsvta Transfer
Current Big Sky Veterinary Technician Association (BSVTA) certificate holders who completed the required BSVTA continuing education may have proof of education and/or hours and VTNE scores transferred from BSVTA to the Board (Board LVT information document).
Experience
Obtain a minimum of 4,500 hours of experience equivalent to that of a licensed veterinary technician (37-18-701(3)(b)(i), MCA; ARM 24.225.601(1)(b) as amended effective September 5, 2026).
Experience Verification
The Board LVT checklist (updated 1/1/2023, before the 2026 amendment) still states: "Option 2 – demonstrate a minimum of 4500 hours of on-the-job-training under the supervision of a veterinarian licensed and residing in Montana"; the on-the-job-training form is completed by the applicant and the Montana licensed supervising veterinarian and submitted to AAVSB, which uses it to determine VTNE eligibility (Board LVT checklist and information document).
Jurisprudence Score
Pass the Board jurisprudence examination with a score of 90 percent or greater; an applicant who fails it three times may submit a written request to the Board to retake it a fourth time (ARM 24.225.601(3)).
License Verification
Official license verification from every state or jurisdiction in which the applicant holds or has ever held a professional license of any type (Board LVT checklist).
Vtne Results
VTNE results must be sent directly to the department from AAVSB (Board LVT checklist).

Montana Veterinary Medicine Jurisprudence Examination

Provider
Montana Board of Veterinary Medicine (graded by department staff)
Format
Open-book written examination completed and submitted with the license application
Passing score
90 percent or greater (ARM 24.225.601(3)(a))
Examination outline
  • MCA Title 37, Chapter 1 - General Provisions
  • MCA Title 37, Chapter 18 - Veterinary Medicine
  • ARM Chapter 24.225 - Board of Veterinary Medicine
  • ARM Chapter 24.101 - Business Standards Division
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