100+ Free VTS (Laboratory Animal) Practice Questions

The VTS (Laboratory Animal) certifying examination is a written specialty exam administered by the Academy of Laboratory Animal Veterinary Technicians and Nurses (ALAVTN). It is the final step in earning the Veterinary Technician Specialist (Laboratory Animal) credential, granted under NAVTA's Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties (CVTS), where ALAVTN currently holds provisional recognition. The exam covers rodents, rabbits, nonhuman primates, swine, dogs, cats, zebrafish, and other research species plus the regulatory framework (AWA, PHS Policy, The Guide, AAALAC, IACUC, OLAW) that governs U.S. biomedical research.

The 2026 ALAVTN examination fee is approximately $300, with an additional application fee required when credentialing materials are submitted. Candidates should also budget for laboratory-animal continuing education (minimum 40 hours), travel to the exam site (typically the AALAS National Meeting), and reference textbooks. Total out-of-pocket investment typically exceeds $500 before study materials.

Candidates must (1) be legally credentialed as a veterinary technician (CVT, LVT, RVT, or equivalent) in a US state or Canadian province, (2) have at least 3 years (typically 6,000+ hours) of laboratory-animal practice within the 5 years preceding application, (3) submit a minimum of 40 case logs across laboratory species, (4) submit detailed case reports from the case log, (5) complete at least 40 hours of laboratory-animal continuing education in the past 5 years, (6) submit the ALAVTN Skills List with documentation, and (7) obtain letters of recommendation from a VTS, ACLAM diplomate, or supervising laboratory-animal veterinarian.

The ALAVTN certifying exam is held once per year, typically in conjunction with the AALAS (American Association for Laboratory Animal Science) National Meeting each fall. Exact date, city, and venue are announced by ALAVTN each cycle. The exam is a written multiple-choice format delivered in person or via approved proctored delivery. Candidates should verify the current format and deadlines on alavtn.org before applying.

The passing score is set each year by the ALAVTN Examination Committee based on the difficulty of that year's exam. The minimum passing score is not publicly published as a fixed percentage. Candidates are typically notified of their pass/fail result within 60-90 days of the exam, and written deficiency feedback is often available on request for those who do not pass.

Focus first on the regulatory framework — AWA (know which species are excluded after the 2002 Farm Bill: rats, mice, birds), PHS Policy, the 8th edition of The Guide, AAALAC accreditation standards, IACUC composition and duties, OLAW, USDA pain categories (B/C/D/E), and the 3 Rs (replacement, reduction, refinement — Russell and Burch 1959). Core references include The Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (NRC 8th ed, 2011), the AVMA Guidelines for the Euthanasia of Animals (2020), Laboratory Animal Medicine (Fox et al.), and the ALAT/LAT/LATG Manuals from AALAS. Expect 12-18 months of dedicated preparation.

The AALAS LATG (Laboratory Animal Technologist) is an entry-to-advanced technologist certification open to anyone working in laboratory animal science — you do not need to be a credentialed veterinary technician. The VTS (Laboratory Animal) is a veterinary technician SPECIALTY credential that requires an existing CVT/LVT/RVT plus 3+ years of lab animal experience, case logs, case reports, and CE. Many candidates hold LATG (or LAT) as well as VTS (Laboratory Animal); the two credentials are complementary.