Professional License Verification
How to Verify a Veterinary Technician License
Veterinary technicians are licensed at the state level and must pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE). Most states also accept or recognize the NAVTA Certified Veterinary Technician (CVMT) credential. Here is how to confirm a vet tech is authorized to practice in your state.
Quick answer
Search your state veterinary medical board's online license lookup. Most state boards list veterinary technicians (or registered/licensed veterinary technicians) alongside veterinarians. Provide the technician's full name or license number. For the NAVTA CVMT credential, verify separately at navta.net.
License title varies by state
The credential is the same role, but states use different titles. Knowing the title in a specific state helps you find the right license lookup:
| Title | States / Notes |
|---|---|
| Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) | New York, Michigan, Minnesota, and others |
| Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT) | California, Oregon, Washington, and others |
| Certified Veterinary Technician (CVT) | Wisconsin, Illinois, and others |
| Veterinary Technician (VT) | Some states use this title without a prefix |
In a handful of states, veterinary technicians are not licensed at all — only veterinarians are regulated by the state board. In those states, NAVTA certification is the primary credential to verify.
The VTNE: the national licensing exam
Almost every state that licenses veterinary technicians requires passage of the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), administered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). The VTNE is not publicly searchable, but passing it is a prerequisite for licensure in most states — so a valid state license implicitly confirms VTNE passage.
AAVSB does not operate a public lookup for VTNE results. If you need to confirm VTNE passage independently, the credentialed individual must authorize a score release through the AAVSB ePaws portal.
State veterinary board lookups
State vet tech license lookups (selected)
- California: California Veterinary Medical Board — vmb.ca.gov; License Search; look for RVT
- New York: NY Office of the Professions — op.nysed.gov; License Verification; select Veterinary Technology
- Texas: Texas State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners — license.vet.texas.gov; License Lookup
- Florida: Florida DBPR — myfloridalicense.com; search Veterinary Technology
- Illinois: Illinois IDFPR — idfpr.illinois.gov; License Lookup; search Certified Vet Technician
- Washington: WA Dept. of Health — doh.wa.gov; License Lookup; search Veterinary Technician
- Colorado: Colorado DORA — dora.colorado.gov; License Lookup; search Veterinary Technician
- Michigan: Michigan LARA — michigan.gov/lara; License Lookup; search Licensed Veterinary Technician
For states not listed above, search for "[State] veterinary medical board license lookup" or navigate to your state's professional licensing portal and search for veterinary technician, registered veterinary technician, or licensed veterinary technician.
NAVTA CVMT certification
The National Association of Veterinary Technicians in America (NAVTA) awards the Credentialed Veterinary Medical Technician (CVMT) designation. This is a voluntary national credential separate from state licensure. It requires current state licensure, VTNE passage, and continuing education maintenance.
To verify NAVTA CVMT status, contact NAVTA directly at navta.net or use the member directory. NAVTA does not operate a fully public credential lookup — verification typically requires submitting a request to the organization or having the credential holder authorize verification.
CVMT vs. state license
CVMT is a voluntary national designation. A vet tech can be fully licensed by their state board without holding CVMT. State licensure is the legal authorization to practice — CVMT reflects additional professional recognition. Always verify the state license as the primary credential.
Specialty credentials (VTS)
Experienced veterinary technicians can earn Veterinary Technician Specialist (VTS) status in over a dozen specialties — including anesthesia, emergency and critical care, dentistry, behavior, oncology, and surgery — through specialty academies.
VTS credentials are awarded by individual academies (e.g., Academy of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Technicians, Academy of Veterinary Dental Technicians). Verify VTS credentials directly with the relevant academy. VTS requires an active state license as a prerequisite.
Red flags
- Claims to be licensed but the state board shows no record under their name
- References a license number that does not match any current record
- License shows Expired, Inactive, or Suspended status
- Uses the title "Veterinary Technician" in a state that licenses the role without any traceable credential
- Cannot provide the issuing state board name or license number on request
- CVMT claimed but NAVTA has no record
Verification checklist
- 1. Identify the state where the vet tech is licensed (their primary practice state, not necessarily the employer's state)
- 2. Collect their full name and state license number
- 3. Search the state veterinary medical board's license lookup — confirm Active status and expiration date
- 4. Note the license title in that state (LVT, RVT, CVT) and confirm it matches what the individual claims
- 5. If CVMT is claimed, verify with NAVTA separately
- 6. If VTS specialty is claimed, contact the relevant specialty academy
- 7. Review disciplinary history on the state license record
Verify the training program behind the credential
Veterinary technician licensure requires graduation from an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program. Use VerifyED to confirm whether a vet tech's educational institution was properly accredited before accepting their credentials.
Search Schools and Accreditation →