Vet 800 Administrative Rules - Veterinary Nurses, Veterinary Technicians, and Veterinary Assistants

The NH Board of Veterinary Medicine finalized and adopted Vet 800 Veterinary Nurses, Veterinary Technicians, and Veterinary Assistants administrative rules at their March 15, 2023, meeting. These rules became effective on May 15, 2023. Details are available on the Board of Veterinary Medicine Laws and Rules | NH Office of Professional Licensure and Certification webpage. 

These rules outline tasks allowed to be performed by veterinary technicians and veterinary assistants. The rules also include a clause allowing individuals meeting specific requirements who have not graduated from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) accredited veterinary technology program to take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) until May 1, 2026, to become credentialed.

 The NH Board of Veterinary Medicine experienced regulatory roadblocks that affected its ability to approve VTNE alternative pathway applications. However, this does not affect the Vet 800 rules which remain in effect, including the May 2026 deadline beyond which anyone practicing as a Veterinary Technician or Veterinary Nurse in NH must have passed the VTNE and be certified in NH or certified, licensed, or registered in another state.

Those seeking certification through an alternative pathway.

The State of Wisconsin currently allows non-Wisconsin residents to apply to sit for the VTNE and then become certified in Wisconsin (ref. Veterinary Technician Certification Application Process and Veterinary Technician Application). Those eager to move forward with sitting for the VTNE, and not wanting to wait for the NH application to open up could consider applying to take the VTNE through WI. After passing the VTNE, individuals would be eligible to apply for certification in NH using the Alternative Pathway Application. This alternative pathway to becoming certified with the NHVTA expires on October 15, 2026.  Passing the WI state exam to become certified in WI is not required. Travel to WI is not required. The VTNE is taken online remotely.

NHVTA alternative pathway for the certification process

• Use this link, Veterinary Exam Score Transfers | VAULT Basic (aavsb.org),  to transfer your VTNE score to the NHVTA.
• Use this link, NHVTA Alternative Pathway Application, to apply for NHVTA certification.

Individuals who are currently certified in Wisconsin

The NHVTA updated its reciprocity rules for a limited time to allow reciprocity from states that do not meet the NHVTA standard of a degree from an AVMA-approved Veterinary Technology program and a passing score on the VTNE to make a path for those pursuing the VTNE through NH to be certified with the NHVTA. In doing so, it allowed reciprocity from those credentialed in another state, including Wisconsin. This alternative reciprocity pathway to becoming certified with the NHVTA expires on October 15, 2026.

NHVTA reciprocity for the certification process

• Use this link, Veterinary Exam Score Transfers | VAULT Basic (aavsb.org), to transfer your VTNE score to the NHVTA.
• Use this link, NHVTA Reciprocity Application, to apply for NHVTA certification.

Vet 800 requirements may be satisfied by taking the VTNE through WI and applying for NH certification via Alternative Pathway Application, maintaining a certification, license, or registration in any other state, or using reciprocity to become certified in NH and maintain your certification in NH. NHVTA CVT Membership.

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