Licensed Veterinary Technicians: Here Are the Steps to Apply

By Dr. Al Balay, Chair, MVMA Veterinary Technician Committee

In this article we remind everyone of how to get ready for Veterinary Technician Licensure, share timelines and steps for current CVT application, and clarify a few key points. Please check the MVMA or MAVT websites for additional information including sample and template affidavits as well as updated Frequently Asked Questions and other resources. 

What’s coming: Veterinary Technician Licensure takes effect July 1. MVMA certification of technicians ends June 30. The application process for licensure through the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) is expected to begin in March.  

The M & M Team (Drs. Ann Brownlee & Al Balay, and CVTs Kim Horne & Sam Geiling, on behalf of MVMA and MAVT) were very pleased with all the interest, positive energy, and great questions from everyone at the recent Annual Conference in Minneapolis. Though we continue to share advice on the licensure process, soon all questions about licensure need to be directed to the Board of Veterinary Medicine. 

One suggestion we received at the Annual Conference was immediately turned into a Template #1 guide/sample on the MVMA and MAVT websites. Be sure to look at the instructions as well as the guide/sample if you’re filling out an affidavit for a license applicant so that there are no errors when you have the document notarized. 

One additional point to make abundantly clear is that current CVTs in good standing with MVMA DO NOT need to obtain or send their VTNE (Veterinary Technician National Exam) report of passage OR transcripts to the Board of Veterinary Medicine. MVMA will be providing that information to the BVM so there is no need to try to find those documents or pay AAVSB (American Association of Veterinary State Boards) to transfer them. 

Applying for License Timelines:

March 2026: start the application by setting up Portal Access as a new user at the MN Board of Veterinary Medicine (BVM) website: https://mn.gov/boards/veterinary-medicine/applications/veterinary-technicians.jsp

March/April: pay the application fees and begin Criminal Background Check (CBC) process through BVM website. Do not delay this step as CBC can take 37 days on average. At this time, you can also upload scanned copies of the five notarized affidavits. 

May/June: check progress on BVM Portal and take the Jurisprudence Exam. We do not anticipate this exam to be available until after the legislative session ends around May 18.  

Application Steps ONLY for Currently Certified Veterinary Technicians*: 

1. Start application through the BVM by setting up Portal Access 

2. Pay fees to the BVM (total fees = $282)

3. Complete and submit Criminal Background Check Program requirements: Criminal Background Check Program fingerprint and instruction information is emailed to applicants within 1–2 days of application 

4. Obtain and submit 5 affidavits, two from veterinarians, attesting to your moral character (Affidavit Template #1) by uploading to the portal

5. Log into portal and take the Jurisprudence Examination after May 18. Remember that the jurisprudence exam is an open resource exam (consider using a computer at home or workplace with two monitors so that you can have the resources available on one monitor while you take the exam on the other monitor).   

*NOTE: all other applicants should visit the MVMA or MAVT website for application details. 

Finally, the use of Veterinary Technician, Technician, and even Vet Tech titles will be protected by statutes starting July 1. Only those who become licensed through the MN Board of Veterinary Medicine may use these terms as well as the official term “Licensed Veterinary Technician” after that date. Additionally, the term Certified Vet Tech/CVT will NOT be used at all after that date. All others MUST be referred to as Veterinary Assistants. It is up to all of us to use the correct titles! 

This article appears in the March/April 2026 issue of the MVMA Messenger