100+ Free VTS (Zoological Medicine) Practice Questions

The VTS (Zoological Medicine) certifying examination is a written specialty exam administered by the Academy of Veterinary Zoological Medicine Technicians (AVZMT). It is the final step in earning the Veterinary Technician Specialist (Zoological Medicine) credential, granted under NAVTA's Committee on Veterinary Technician Specialties (CVTS). It covers mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and invertebrates in zoo, aquarium, wildlife, and exotic-animal practice settings.

The 2026 AVZMT examination fee is approximately $300, with an additional application fee required when credentialing materials are submitted. Candidates should also budget for zoological continuing education (minimum 40 hours), travel to the exam site or conference, and study references — the total 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 and typically 6,000+ hours of zoological or exotic animal practice within the 5 years preceding application, (3) submit a minimum of 40 case logs spanning multiple taxonomic groups, (4) submit 4 detailed case reports (typically 5 pages each), (5) complete at least 40 hours of zoological-medicine continuing education in the past 5 years, (6) submit the AVZMT Skills List, and (7) obtain two letters of recommendation from a VTS, ACZM diplomate, or ACVECC/ACVAA diplomate familiar with the candidate's zoo practice.

The AVZMT certifying exam is held once per year, typically in conjunction with the AAZV (American Association of Zoo Veterinarians) annual conference. Exact date and location are announced by AVZMT each cycle. The exam is a written multiple-choice format delivered in person or by approved proctored delivery; candidates should verify the current format on azvt.org before applying.

The passing score is set each year by the AVZMT 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 notified of their pass/fail result within 60-90 days of the exam, with written deficiency feedback available on request for those who do not pass.

Focus your study on all major taxonomic groups — reptiles, birds, exotic mammals, fish, amphibians, and invertebrates — rather than one specialty. Core references include Fowler's Zoo and Wild Animal Medicine (current edition), Carpenter's Exotic Animal Formulary, West/Heard/Caulkett's Zoo Animal and Wildlife Immobilization and Anesthesia, Mader's Reptile Medicine and Surgery, and Harrison and Lightfoot's Clinical Avian Medicine. Expect 12-18 months of dedicated preparation on top of multi-year experience.

Yes. AVZMT accepts hours and cases from AZA-accredited zoos, aquariums, wildlife rehabilitation centers, exotic-animal private practices, research facilities, and sanctuaries — provided a supervising veterinarian signs off on the case log and species diversity requirements are met. Many successful candidates come from exotic-only private practices or wildlife rescue organizations rather than traditional zoos.