100+ Free NAVTA AVA Practice Questions

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A new client calls to schedule an appointment for a puppy that has not yet received any vaccinations. Which scheduling approach best protects the puppy and other patients in the clinic?

Schedule during the busiest part of the day so the doctor is already in the building

Schedule during a quieter appointment block and keep the puppy off the lobby floor

Tell the owner to walk the puppy through the lobby to socialize before the exam

Refuse the appointment until the puppy has finished its vaccine series

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2026 Statistics

Key Facts: NAVTA AVA Exam

100

Multiple-Choice Questions

VetMedTeam AVA exam page

150 min

Exam Time

VetMedTeam AVA exam page

75%

Minimum Passing Score

VetMedTeam AVA exam page

$100

Per-Attempt Fee

VetMedTeam AVA exam page

Essential Skills Domains

NAVTA Veterinary Assistant Program standards

NAVTA lists the AVA exam as 100 multiple-choice questions taken in 150 minutes with a 75% minimum passing score per VetMedTeam, the official online exam administrator. The current AVA exam fee is $100 with up to five paid attempts allowed. The exam covers NAVTA's eight Essential Skills curriculum: office procedures, communication, pharmacy, exam room procedures, nursing, surgery, lab, and imaging. Eligibility requires graduation from a NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant program within the past 12 months, and the exam must be proctored by an approved mentor.

Sample NAVTA AVA Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to test your NAVTA AVA exam readiness. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1A new client calls to schedule an appointment for a puppy that has not yet received any vaccinations. Which scheduling approach best protects the puppy and other patients in the clinic?

A.Schedule during the busiest part of the day so the doctor is already in the building

B.Schedule during a quieter appointment block and keep the puppy off the lobby floor

C.Tell the owner to walk the puppy through the lobby to socialize before the exam

D.Refuse the appointment until the puppy has finished its vaccine series

Explanation: Unvaccinated puppies are susceptible to parvovirus and other contagious diseases that can survive on lobby floors. Best practice is to schedule during a quieter time, carry the puppy in, and place it directly into an exam room rather than letting it walk through public areas.

2Which of the following best describes the purpose of an informed consent form before a surgical procedure?

A.It guarantees the surgery will be successful

B.It documents that the client understands the procedure, risks, and costs and authorizes treatment

C.It releases the practice from any liability for malpractice

D.It substitutes for a written medical record

Explanation: Informed consent documents that the client received an explanation of the procedure, anesthesia risks, alternatives, and estimated cost, and gave permission to proceed. It does not guarantee outcomes and does not waive negligence claims.

3A medical record entry is made in error. According to standard veterinary recordkeeping practice, what is the correct way to fix it?

A.Erase the entry completely so the record reads cleanly

B.Use correction fluid over the error and write the new entry on top

C.Draw a single line through the error, write the correction, and initial and date it

D.Tear out the page and start a new one

Explanation: The legal standard for correcting a paper record is to draw a single line through the error so it remains legible, write the correct information, and initial and date the change. Erasing or covering the original information looks like tampering.

4Under OSHA's Hazard Communication Standard, where should Safety Data Sheets (SDS) be kept in a veterinary hospital?

A.Locked in the practice manager's office

B.In a location readily accessible to all employees during their work shift

C.Stored offsite with the practice's accountant

D.Filed in each patient's individual medical record

Explanation: OSHA requires Safety Data Sheets to be readily accessible to employees on every shift. They are typically kept in a binder or digital portal in a central location, such as the treatment area or pharmacy.

5A client checks in for a wellness exam and mentions the dog has been vomiting for two days. The most appropriate next step is to:

A.Add the new complaint to the medical record and notify the technician or doctor before the exam

B.Ignore it because the appointment was scheduled as a wellness visit

C.Reschedule the appointment for the following week

D.Tell the client to give over-the-counter anti-nausea medication

Explanation: New clinical signs identified at intake must be documented in the record and communicated to the medical team so the visit can be adjusted. Two days of vomiting may indicate a problem that requires diagnostic workup beyond a routine wellness exam.

6Which of the following is considered Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) used by veterinary staff during routine cleaning of cages soiled with feces?

A.Lab coat and dosimetry badge

B.Disposable exam gloves and a face mask or face shield

C.Lead apron and thyroid shield

D.Sterile surgical gown and sterile gloves

Explanation: Routine kennel cleaning requires barrier protection against zoonotic pathogens. Disposable gloves protect the hands, and a mask or face shield protects against aerosolized contamination during scrubbing and rinsing.

7Which statement about the storage of paper medical records is correct?

A.They can be discarded once the patient stops coming to the clinic

B.They must be retained for a period defined by state veterinary practice laws, typically several years after the last visit

C.They can be kept anywhere in the clinic as long as staff can find them

D.They become the property of the client when requested

Explanation: Each state's veterinary practice act sets minimum record retention periods, commonly three to seven years after the patient's last visit. Original records remain the property of the practice; clients are entitled to copies, not originals.

8A patient signalment includes:

A.Owner name, address, and phone number

B.Species, breed, age, sex, and reproductive status

C.Current medications and allergies only

D.Vaccination history and most recent weight

Explanation: The signalment is a brief identifier that includes species, breed, age, sex, and reproductive status (intact or neutered/spayed). It is recorded at the top of every medical entry because many disease risks are tied to these factors.

9Which of the following is the best practice for handling a sharps container in the clinic?

A.Empty it into the regular trash when full and reuse the container

B.Replace it when it reaches the manufacturer's fill line and dispose of it through a licensed medical waste vendor

C.Tape the lid shut and place it in recycling

D.Pour the contents into a leak-proof bag for disposal

Explanation: Sharps containers are single-use, puncture-resistant, and must be sealed and removed once they reach the labeled fill line. Disposal must go through a licensed medical waste service to comply with OSHA and state regulations.

10What information must be on the label of every prescription medication dispensed to a client?

A.Drug name, strength, directions, patient name, prescribing veterinarian, clinic name, and date

B.Only the drug name and dose

C.The manufacturer's logo and lot number only

D.Only the patient's name and dosage

Explanation: A complete dispensing label includes the patient and client identifiers, drug name and strength, dosing instructions, prescribing veterinarian, clinic information, expiration date, and the dispensing date. Most state pharmacy and veterinary boards specify these elements.

About the NAVTA AVA Exam

The NAVTA Approved Veterinary Assistant (AVA) credential is awarded to graduates of NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant programs who pass the AVA exam. The exam is administered online by VetMedTeam on behalf of NAVTA and tests eight essential skill areas: office and hospital procedures, communication and client relations, pharmacy and pharmacology, examination room procedures, small animal nursing, surgical preparation and assisting, laboratory procedures, and radiology and ultrasound imaging. Candidates must take the exam within one year of program completion, with a mentor proctor. The AVA credential is a recognized first step for veterinary support staff and a common foundation for those pursuing the VTNE and credentialed technician status.

Questions

100 scored questions

Time Limit

150 minutes

Passing Score

75%

Exam Fee

$100 (NAVTA / VetMedTeam)

NAVTA AVA Exam Content Outline

12-15%

Office and Hospital Procedures

Appointment scheduling, intake, consent forms, medical records, OSHA basics, sharps and waste handling

12-15%

Communication and Client Relations

Client education, telephone triage, conflict resolution, end-of-life and grief support

12-15%

Pharmacy and Pharmacology

Common drug classes (NSAIDs, antibiotics, parasiticides, antiemetics, anesthetics), label reading, dose calculation, controlled substance handling

12-15%

Examination Room Procedures

Restraint, vital signs (TPR), body condition score, history taking, vaccine prep, oral and dental basics

12-15%

Small Animal Nursing

Hospitalization care, fluid therapy, catheter care, nutrition, post-op care, common infectious diseases

12-15%

Surgical Preparation and Assisting

Sterile technique, instrument identification, autoclave operation, surgical scrub, gowning and gloving, anesthetic monitoring basics

12-15%

Laboratory Procedures

Fecal flotation, urinalysis, blood smears, CBC basics, parasitology (heartworm, Toxocara, hookworms, Giardia, fleas, ticks), microscopy

8-10%

Radiology and Ultrasound Imaging

Radiation safety (PPE, dosimetry, ALARA), positioning (VD, DV, lateral), kVp/mAs basics, ultrasound fundamentals

How to Pass the NAVTA AVA Exam

What You Need to Know

Passing score: 75%
Exam length: 100 questions
Time limit: 150 minutes
Exam fee: $100

Keys to Passing

Complete 500+ practice questions
Score 80%+ consistently before scheduling
Focus on highest-weighted sections
Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

NAVTA AVA Study Tips from Top Performers

1Master vital sign normals: dog HR 60-180 bpm, cat HR 140-220 bpm, dog/cat temp 100.5-102.5°F, RR 10-30 (dog) and 20-40 (cat)

2Practice dose calculations until they are automatic — concentration, mg/kg, and rate problems are frequent test items

3Memorize key parasitology images: Toxocara, Trichuris, Ancylostoma eggs, Giardia cysts, flea morphology, common ticks

4Know radiation safety cold: ALARA, time/distance/shielding, lead apron + thyroid shield + gloves, dosimeter at the collar outside the apron

5Be fluent in restraint positions: cephalic vs jugular vs saphenous draws, VD vs DV positioning, low-stress feline handling

6Review controlled substance log requirements and dispensing label elements — these turn up in most office/pharmacy sections

Frequently Asked Questions

How many questions are on the NAVTA AVA exam?

VetMedTeam, the official AVA exam administrator, lists the exam at 100 multiple-choice questions to be completed within 150 minutes.

What score do I need to pass the NAVTA AVA exam?

VetMedTeam reports a 75% minimum passing score. Candidates receive their result at the end of the proctored online exam.

How much does the NAVTA AVA exam cost?

The current AVA exam fee is $100 USD per attempt, with up to five paid attempts allowed before re-enrollment is required.

Who is eligible to take the NAVTA AVA exam?

Candidates must graduate from a NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant program and take the exam within 12 months of program completion. A mentor must proctor the online exam during a 30-day eligibility window.

What topics are tested on the NAVTA AVA exam?

The exam covers NAVTA's eight Essential Skills: office procedures, communication, pharmacy/pharmacology, exam room procedures, small animal nursing, surgical assisting, laboratory procedures, and radiology/ultrasound imaging. NAVTA does not publish exact percentage weights.

How should I study for the NAVTA AVA exam?

Use your program's curriculum aligned to NAVTA's eight Essential Skills, then practice with question banks that mirror the breadth of topics. Focus on core nursing skills, dose calculations, parasitology identification, and radiation safety because these recur in patient care.

What does the NAVTA AVA credential lead to?

The AVA credential is the recognized standard for trained veterinary assistants and a common stepping stone to credentialed Veterinary Technician status via the VTNE after completing an AVMA-CVTEA accredited program.