VTNE Testing Locations: Where Can You Take the VTNE?

Once your eligibility is approved, the next practical question is simple: where do you actually go to take the VTNE? The Veterinary Technician National Examination is delivered by PSI, the testing vendor that administers it at hundreds of physical test centers across the United States and Canada, as well as through live remote online proctoring from home. This guide explains where the VTNE is administered, how to find and choose a PSI center near you when you schedule, whether you can test online, and exactly what to bring on test day.

Last verified: June 2026 against the AAVSB VTNE Candidate Handbook and the AAVSB "Schedule and Take the VTNE" pages. Testing windows, vendor URLs, and ID rules are revised periodically, so always confirm the current details on aavsb.org before you schedule.

Where is the VTNE administered?

The VTNE is a computer-based exam. It is not given at your veterinary technology program, at a state board office, or on paper. Instead, the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) contracts with a single national testing vendor to deliver the exam under standardized, secure conditions. As of 2025 that vendor is PSI, which administers the VTNE at PSI testing centers throughout the U.S. and Canada, or via live remote proctoring (LRP) in your own home.

If you tested years ago or read older study advice online, you may see references to a previous test-delivery arrangement. The current, AAVSB-confirmed vendor is PSI, so any scheduling, center-locator, or remote-proctoring instructions you follow should come from PSI and from your MyAAVSB portal, not from outdated third-party pages.

PSI testing centers explained

A PSI test center is a professional, proctored computer lab. You sit at an assigned workstation, lock your belongings in a locker, and complete the 170-question, three-hour exam on a provided computer while a proctor monitors the room. These are the same kinds of centers used for many licensing and certification exams, so the environment is quiet, controlled, and designed to prevent cheating. Centers are spread across major and mid-size cities, which means most candidates can find one within a reasonable drive — but availability and the exact location list change over time, so you confirm seats when you schedule rather than assuming a specific address will still be open.

How to find a VTNE testing center near you

You do not pick your testing location until after you are approved to test. The sequence matters, so here is how it fits together:

1. Submit your VTNE application and pay your fees through your MyAAVSB portal. (See our guide to VTNE registration for the full walkthrough, and VTNE cost for current fees.)
2. Wait for AAVSB to approve your eligibility. You cannot schedule a seat before approval.
3. Once approved, create or log in to your PSI account using the candidate ID from your MyAAVSB portal.
4. Inside PSI, choose your testing window, then search for a center by city, state, or ZIP code and select an available date and time.

Using the PSI center locator

When you schedule through PSI, the system shows you available centers near the location you enter, along with the open dates and time slots at each one. You can compare a few nearby centers and pick the combination of location and date that works best. PSI also provides a search tool you can use to check which centers exist in your area before you are approved, so you can plan your travel and timing in advance — just remember you cannot actually reserve a seat until your application is approved. After you book, PSI sends a confirmation email with your appointment details; keep it, because it lists the exact center address and your reporting time.

What to do if there's no nearby center

If the closest PSI center is far away or fully booked for the dates you need, you have a few options. First, widen your search radius and check neighboring cities — a slightly longer drive may open up many more dates. Second, look at adjacent testing windows; the VTNE runs in four windows per year, so flexibility on timing often solves a location problem. Third, consider the live remote proctoring option below, which removes the travel question entirely. Booking early in a window almost always gives you more center and date choices than waiting until the last week.

Can you take the VTNE online?

Yes. In addition to in-person PSI centers, the VTNE can be taken from home through live remote proctoring (LRP). With LRP, you sit the same exam on your own computer while a live proctor monitors you through your webcam and microphone for the entire session. This is a genuine alternative to driving to a center, and it is especially useful for candidates in rural areas or anyone who would otherwise have a long commute.

Remote-proctoring availability and requirements

Live remote proctoring is not a "log in and go" option — it has strict technical and environmental requirements, and your setup is checked before you are allowed to begin. In general you will need:

• A reliable computer with a working webcam, microphone, and stable internet connection that passes PSI's pre-exam system check.
• A private, quiet, distraction-free room where no one else can enter during the exam.
• A clear desk — no notes, phones, second monitors, books, or other materials within reach. The proctor will ask you to show the room on camera.
• The same government-issued photo ID required at a physical center (details below).

Because the rules and tech specs for LRP are detailed and updated periodically, AAVSB directs candidates to download and read the current Live Remote Proctoring guide before choosing this option. If your home environment or equipment can't meet the requirements, a PSI center is the safer choice — being flagged for an avoidable rule violation can invalidate your attempt.

What to bring and what to expect at the testing center

Whether you test in person or remotely, identity verification is the single most important thing to get right. A mismatch here is the most common reason candidates are turned away on exam day.

ID, check-in, and prohibited items

You must bring one unexpired, government-issued photo ID — such as a driver's license or passport — and the first and last name on that ID must exactly match the name you used on your VTNE application. Temporary IDs and other non-government forms of ID are not accepted. If your name has changed (for example, after marriage), correct it on your application well before test day so the two match.

At an in-person PSI center, plan to arrive 15 to 30 minutes before your scheduled time for check-in. You will store all personal items in a locker, because they are not allowed in the testing room. Prohibited items typically include:

• Cell phones, smartwatches, and chargers
• Books, notes, binders, sticky notes, and any reference materials
• Bags, wallets, and eyeglass cases
• Food, drinks, and gum
• Hats and outerwear (subject to the center's policy)

The center provides everything you need to take the exam — the computer, on-screen tools, and usually scratch material — so you should not bring your own supplies into the room.

Test-day logistics: arrival, breaks, and timing

The VTNE is a three-hour exam containing 170 multiple-choice questions. Of those, 150 are scored and 20 are unscored pilot questions used to develop future exams; you won't know which are which, so treat every question seriously. The exam covers the VTNE's nine official domains — Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Surgical Nursing, Dentistry, Laboratory Procedures, Animal Nursing/Care, Diagnostic Imaging, Anesthesia, Emergency and Critical Care, and Pain Management/Analgesia. (For the full breakdown, see what the VTNE is.)

Arrive early, complete check-in, and go through ID verification before you are seated. The three-hour clock is yours to manage; that's roughly a minute per question with time to review. There is no separately scheduled break, so plan accordingly — use the restroom and eat beforehand. Once you finish, your responses are submitted electronically and your results are processed through AAVSB rather than handed to you at the center.

The best way to make test-day logistics feel routine is to have already practiced under the same clock. A timed question bank that mirrors the 170-question, three-hour format turns the real exam into "just another practice run."

Be ready on test day — start a free timed VTNE practice exam now.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where can I take the VTNE?

You can take the VTNE at a PSI testing center or from home via live remote proctoring. PSI operates testing centers across the United States and Canada, and you choose your specific location and date inside your PSI account after AAVSB approves your eligibility.

How do I find a VTNE testing center near me?

After your application is approved, log in to your PSI account using the candidate ID from your MyAAVSB portal and search by city, state, or ZIP code. PSI displays available centers and open dates near you. You can also use PSI's search tool to scout nearby centers before approval, though you can't reserve a seat until you're approved.

Can you take the VTNE online?

Yes. The VTNE is available through live remote proctoring (LRP), which lets you sit the exam at home while a live proctor monitors you via webcam and microphone. You'll need a private room, a clear desk, reliable equipment that passes PSI's system check, and the same government-issued photo ID required at a center. Read PSI's current Live Remote Proctoring guide before choosing this option.

What do I need to bring to the VTNE testing center?

Bring one unexpired, government-issued photo ID whose first and last name exactly match the name on your VTNE application. Leave everything else — phones, watches, notes, bags, and food — in the provided locker, since personal items are prohibited in the testing room. The center supplies the computer and any scratch material.

Is the VTNE still given through Pearson VUE?

No. As of 2025 the VTNE is delivered by PSI, both at PSI testing centers and through live remote proctoring. Follow scheduling and center-locator instructions from PSI and your MyAAVSB portal, not from older third-party pages that reference a previous arrangement.

How early should I arrive at the testing center?

Plan to arrive 15 to 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment so you have time to check in, store your belongings, and complete ID verification before being seated. Arriving late can forfeit your appointment, so build in a buffer for traffic and parking.

When can I schedule my exam location?

You schedule a center and date only after AAVSB approves your eligibility. The VTNE runs in four testing windows per year, so once approved you'll select your window in PSI and then choose an available center, date, and time. Booking early in a window gives you the most location and date options. See our guides to VTNE registration and VTNE test dates for the full timeline.

Your testing location is only half the equation — being prepared for what's on the screen is the other half. Our 2,757-question timed practice bank and 2,283-card flashcard deck, each with answer rationales, are built around the VTNE's nine official domains so you walk into any PSI center, or your own LRP session, already knowing the format cold. Start your free VTNE practice today.