Texas Veterinary Licensing Explained: The Optional LVT, the State Board Exam and How to Verify a License

Texas has one of the largest veterinary workforces in the country, and one of the most unusual approaches to veterinary technicians. Unlike most states, Texas licenses technicians but does not require them to be licensed to work. That single fact changes how practices write job postings, how technicians plan their careers, and what a practice can check when it hires.

This guide explains how Texas veterinary licensing works for veterinarians and technicians, based on the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners' published requirements.

Who regulates veterinary medicine in Texas

The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) licenses and regulates veterinarians and licensed veterinary technicians in Texas. It sets licensing requirements, runs the state board exam, handles complaints and discipline, and publishes a public license search.

The Texas LVT: a license that is optional

Texas created the Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT) license under a law passed by the 83rd Texas Legislature, effective September 1, 2014. The board describes it this way: only people who hold the license may use the title "Licensed Veterinary Technician" in Texas, but licensure itself is optional.

In practice, that means:

• The title is protected. Someone without the license cannot call themselves a Licensed Veterinary Technician in Texas.
• The work is not reserved to LVTs the way it is in many states. Many technician tasks in Texas are performed under a veterinarian's supervision and delegation, and the rules on delegation are set by the board.
• An LVT signals training and commitment. The board describes the license as signifying a professional commitment to high standards. For practices, it is a verified way to know a technician graduated from an accredited program and passed the national exam.

Requirements for the Texas LVT

According to the TBVME, applicants must:

1. Graduate from an AVMA accredited veterinary technician program. The board states that alternate routes are not accepted.
2. Pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE) before taking the Texas State Board Exam. See our VTNE guide.
3. Submit fingerprints for a criminal history check. Since October 1, 2018, all applicants must meet the fingerprinting requirement before licensure. Anyone concerned that a criminal history may affect eligibility can request a pre-licensure evaluation from the board.
4. Pass the Texas State Board Exam (SBE).

The State Board Exam

The SBE is Texas's state licensing exam, required for all license categories, veterinarians and technicians alike. The board's rules for the exam:

• It is administered online.
• Approved applicants receive a candidate ID from the TBVME, which is needed to purchase and register for the exam.
• It must be completed in one sitting within 10 days of purchase.

The board publishes study materials for the SBE on its website.

Keeping the license: continuing education

Texas LVTs must complete 10 hours of continuing education every year, with limits on how those hours can be earned:

• Up to 10 hours from live, real time or interactive courses, in person or online.
• Up to 2 hours from practice management courses.
• Up to 4 hours from non-interactive, prerecorded or on demand courses.
• Up to 2 hours from self study.

CE completed before licensure does not count, and LVTs must keep copies of CE certificates for four years in case of an audit. Practicing with an expired license violates state law.

Veterinarians in Texas

Veterinarians must hold a Texas license from the TBVME to practice in Texas. The usual path includes graduating from an accredited veterinary college (or completing an equivalency program), passing the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), passing the Texas State Board Exam, and meeting the board's other requirements. A license from another state does not carry over. See moving states as a veterinarian or vet tech.

How to verify a Texas license

The TBVME publishes a public license search on its website. To verify someone:

1. Search by name or license number. A license number is the most reliable match in a state with many common names.
2. Confirm the license type: veterinarian or LVT.
3. Read the status and the expiration date.
4. Check for disciplinary action on the record.
5. Save the license number, status and date you checked.

For technicians, remember that a Texas technician without an LVT is not unlicensed in a way that breaks the law. They may still be well trained. If an LVT is not on file, ask about their program, the VTNE and any other state's credential, and confirm what you can. See how to verify a veterinary license and what each license status means.

What this means for Texas practices

• Say whether you want an LVT. "LVT preferred" and "LVT required" attract different applicants. If you will support someone toward the license, say so.
• Recognize the license in pay. If you value the verified training behind an LVT, reflect it in your pay range. Texas had the lowest typical advertised technician rate among states in our November 2026 data, about $21 an hour, which makes clear, competitive pay an advantage when hiring. See what veterinary technician job ads actually pay, by state.
• Support CE. Ten hours a year is a modest requirement, and paying for it is an easy retention benefit.

What this means for Texas technicians

• Getting the LVT is worth it, even though it is optional. It protects the title, verifies your training to every future employer and makes a move to another state simpler, because you will already have passed the VTNE.
• Use it in negotiation. A practice that wants LVTs should pay for the credential.
• If you trained outside an accredited program, know that Texas does not accept alternate routes for the LVT.

How Zuse helps

Zuse Hire helps Texas practices see licensed veterinarians and technicians nearby and check their credentials. On Zuse Talent, Texas veterinarians and technicians can claim their license and browse vet tech jobs in Texas and veterinarian jobs with the pay shown.

Sources

• Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, Licensed Veterinary Technician (LVT)
• Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, State Board Exam (SBE) and Licensing Information
• Zuse, veterinary pay by state, November 11, 2026

Requirements change. Confirm current rules with the TBVME before you apply or hire.

FAQ

Do you need a license to be a vet tech in Texas?

No. Texas licenses veterinary technicians, but the board describes the license as optional. Only license holders may use the title "Licensed Veterinary Technician."

What are the requirements for a Texas LVT?

Graduation from an AVMA accredited veterinary technician program, a passing VTNE score, fingerprints for a criminal history check, and a passing score on the Texas State Board Exam. Alternate routes are not accepted.

What is the Texas State Board Exam?

An online exam required for all Texas veterinary license categories. Approved applicants receive a candidate ID to register, and the exam must be completed in one sitting within 10 days of purchase.

How much continuing education do Texas LVTs need?

Ten hours every year, with limits of 2 hours of practice management, 4 hours of non-interactive courses and 2 hours of self study.

How do I verify a Texas veterinary license?

Use the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners' public license search. Search by name or license number, confirm the license type, and check the status, expiration date and any disciplinary action.