Free VTS (ECC) Exam Prep
Veterinary Technician Specialist (Emergency and Critical Care)
Prepare for the VTS (ECC) exam without spending hundreds on expensive prep courses. Free study guides, practice questions, flashcards, and related exam resources.
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VTS Veterinary Technician Specialist License: Complete Roadmap
Follow this path to organize your licensing and exam preparation
Phase 1: Emergency Triage, Shock Dynamics & Fluid ResuscitationYou are here
Master primary/secondary triage surveys, shock categories (hypovolemic, distributive, cardiogenic, obstructive), fluid kinetics, isotonic crystalloid/colloid resuscitation, and blood gas/acid-base interpretation (Chapters 1 & 4).
Phase 2: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (RECOVER) & Advanced ECG Interpretation
Deep-dive into the 2012/2024 RECOVER CPR guidelines (BLS compressions, ventilation, ALS vasopressors, defibrillation) and life-threatening arrhythmia recognition (Chapters 2 & 3).
Phase 3: Respiratory Emergencies, Mechanical Ventilation & Acid-Base Physiology
Study upper/lower airway obstructions, pleural space disease, acute respiratory failure (ARDS, ALI), blood gas algorithms (Henderson-Hasselbalch, Stewart), and positive pressure ventilation modes (Chapters 4 & 5).
Phase 4: Emergency Anesthesia, Analgesia & Hemolymphatic / Transfusion Medicine
Review cardiovascular-sparing induction protocols, multimodal constant rate infusions (MLK, FLK), transfusion medicine, canine/feline blood types, crossmatching, and blood component therapy (Chapters 6 & 7).
Phase 5: Acute Abdomen, Sepsis, Renal & Endocrine/Metabolic Crises
Master pathophysiology and management of GDV, septic peritonitis, acute kidney injury (IRIS grading), urethral obstruction, DKA, and acute Addisonian crisis (Chapters 8, 11 & 12).
Phase 6: Clinical Toxicology, Neurological Crises & Advanced Critical Care Nursing
Cover common small animal and environmental toxicities, status epilepticus tiers, traumatic brain injury (MGCS, Monro-Kellie, ICP), spinal localization, IVDD, and the Rule of 20 ICU bundle (Chapters 9, 10 & 13).
Phase 7: Full-Length Timed 200-Question Simulations & Clinical Case Review
Sit full-length timed 200-question simulations under blueprint weighting (Cardiovascular, Gastrointestinal, and Fluid/Electrolyte/Acid-base at 12% each; Respiratory 11%) and review the weakest domains. AVECCTN does not publish a sitting length, so practise for sustained accuracy rather than to a fixed clock.
Can You Take the VTS (ECC) Exam?
Check if you meet the basic eligibility requirements
- •Current legal credentialing as a veterinary technician/nurse (RVT, LVT, CVT, or equivalent) with no lapse during the qualifying work period
- •Minimum 25 hours of emergency and critical care continuing education completed within the same five-year window (nationally recognized conference, veterinary/technician association, accredited school program, AAVSB, RACE-approved CE, or expert-led publicly advertised local meeting)
- •50-case log documenting emergency and critical care cases, collected November 1 through October 31
- •4 case reports (no more than 5 double-spaced pages each) selected from the case log, referenced in AMA format
- •Completed AVECCTN Skills List with required photo documentation (2027 cycle: 26 core skills, all required, plus 8 of 16 advanced skills)
- •Current RECOVER CPR certification (online BLS and ALS); a certificate lapsed beyond 2 years is not current
- •Two letters of reference from a VTS in emergency and critical care, anesthesia, or internal medicine; a VECCS veterinarian; or an ACVECC Diplomate, submitted through the online form
- •Part A (pre-application) due March 31; Part B (case logs, case reports, skills list) due October 31
VTS (ECC) Quick Facts
Time to Get Licensed
6-12 months of dedicated preparation on top of the multi-year experience requirement
From start to license in hand
Retake Policy
The examination fee is payable for each attempt. Candidates must pass within three years of their original application acceptance date, after which a new application and credential package is required. Failed candidates may request written clarification of areas of deficiency within 30 days of notification.
Total Cost Breakdown
Free VTS (ECC) Prep Tools
107+ Practice Questions
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What You'll Study
13 chapters covering the exam topics in this guide
Chapter 1: Exam Overview, Triage & Point-of-Care Assessment
3 sections
Chapter 2: Cardiovascular Emergencies & RECOVER CPR
4 sections
Chapter 3: Fluid Therapy, Shock Resuscitation & Acid-Base Balance
4 sections
Chapter 4: Respiratory Emergencies & Mechanical Ventilation
4 sections
Chapter 5: Gastrointestinal & Hepatic Emergencies
4 sections
Chapter 6: Anesthesia, Analgesia & Constant Rate Infusions
4 sections
Chapter 7: Renal & Urinary Emergencies
3 sections
Chapter 8: Hemolymphatic, Transfusion Medicine & Sepsis/SIRS
4 sections
Chapter 9: Environmental, Toxicological, Ophthalmic & Exotic Species Emergencies
6 sections
Chapter 10: Neurological Emergencies
3 sections
Chapter 11: Endocrine & Metabolic Crises
3 sections
Chapter 12: Reproductive & Musculoskeletal Emergencies
3 sections
Chapter 13: Advanced Critical Care Monitoring, Vascular Access & The Rule of 20
3 sections
VTS (ECC) Exam Details
Veterinary Technician Specialist (Emergency and Critical Care)
Administered by AVECCTN / NAVTA CVTS
Exam Content Breakdown
Based on the official AVECCTN / NAVTA CVTS content outline
CPR/RECOVER BLS and ALS, arrhythmias and ECG interpretation, congestive heart failure, pericardial effusion and tamponade, feline aortic thromboembolism
GDV, parvoviral enteritis, pancreatitis, hepatic failure and encephalopathy, septic peritonitis, AHDS, biliary emergencies
Shock resuscitation, crystalloids and colloids, hypertonic saline, Kmax and electrolyte correction, blood gas and acid-base interpretation
Upper and lower airway obstruction, pleural space disease, ARDS, oxygen therapy, capnography, mechanical ventilation
High-risk emergency anesthesia, multimodal analgesia and pain scoring, CRIs (MLK, FLK), hypotension and complication management
AKI and IRIS grading, renal replacement therapy, feline urethral obstruction, uroabdomen, post-obstructive diuresis
Transfusion medicine and crossmatching, IMHA and IMTP, sepsis/SIRS, DIC, oncologic emergencies including tumour lysis
Triage and primary survey, POCUS/AFAST/TFAST, burns, ophthalmology, envenomation, hyper/hypothermia, exotics, procedures and equipment not specific to another system
Status epilepticus, modified Glasgow Coma Scale, traumatic brain injury and ICP, IVDD and spinal localization
Decontamination, chocolate, xylitol, NSAIDs, anticoagulant rodenticides, ethylene glycol, organophosphates
Diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, adrenocortical crisis, thyroid crises, severe hypoglycemia
Open fractures and luxations, splinting, compartment syndrome, rhabdomyolysis and crush injury
Dystocia and neonatal resuscitation, pyometra, puerperal hypocalcemia/eclampsia
What's Included
13 Chapters
Complete exam coverage
Practice Quizzes
With detailed explanations
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What's Next After the VTS (ECC)?
After passing the VTS (ECC), you can pursue these career paths
VTNE
Initial credentialing as a veterinary technician (RVT/LVT/CVT) — prerequisite to all VTS academies
VTS (Anesthesia & Analgesia)
Academy of Veterinary Technicians in Anesthesia and Analgesia — another NAVTA CVTS specialty
VTS (Internal Medicine)
Academy of Internal Medicine for Veterinary Technicians — small animal, large animal, cardiology, oncology, neurology subcategories
VTS (Surgery)
Academy of Veterinary Surgical Technicians — another common next specialty
VTS (ECC) Exam FAQ
Official AVECCTN / NAVTA CVTS Resources
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