Virginia Veterinary Licensing Explained: License Lookup, the LVT and Coming From Another State

Virginia is one of the busiest states for veterinary hiring. In Zuse's data for November 2026 it had more open veterinarian jobs than any other state, and the highest typical advertised technician pay of any southern state. If you are hiring there, moving there, or coming back after time away, it helps to know exactly how the state licenses people and what its board will ask for.

This guide covers who regulates veterinary medicine in Virginia, how to verify a license, the licensed veterinary technician (LVT) pathways, and what happens when a license lapses.

Who regulates veterinary medicine in Virginia

The Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine is one of the boards within the Department of Health Professions (DHP). It licenses veterinarians and veterinary technicians, registers veterinary establishments, and handles complaints and discipline. The board's offices are at 9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 300, Henrico, Virginia.

Virginia's regulations are in Title 18 of the Virginia Administrative Code, chapter 150. The practice act is in Title 54.1, chapter 38 of the Code of Virginia.

Like most states, Virginia also registers the practice location itself. A veterinary establishment needs its own registration, separate from the licenses of the people who work there.

How to look up a Virginia license

DHP runs a single License Lookup for every health profession it regulates, including veterinarians and LVTs. It covers current licenses and licenses that have expired since January 1, 2000.

To verify someone:

1. Search by license number when you have it. It is the most reliable match.
2. Confirm the profession: veterinarian or veterinary technician.
3. Read the status and the expiration date. Current active is what you need. Current inactive means the person holds a license but may not practice until it is reactivated.
4. Check for any board action, and read the order itself if there is one.
5. Save the number, status and date you checked.

Our guides to how to verify a veterinary license and what each license status means explain these steps in more detail.

The Virginia LVT

Virginia licenses veterinary technicians, so the title on the record is LVT, and the license is required to practice as a technician. The board offers several routes to it.

Licensure by examination

The standard route for new graduates. The board needs:

• A transcript from a veterinary technology program accredited by the AVMA or the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, showing the degree was conferred.
• VTNE scores, sent by the AAVSB. If you took the VTNE in Virginia less than a year before applying, the board already has them.
• Verification of every other credential you hold or have held, in any state or profession.

See our VTNE guide for the national exam.

Licensure by endorsement

For technicians already licensed elsewhere. The board's requirements:

• A current, unrestricted technician license from another US jurisdiction. A certification from an association, rather than a state, does not qualify.
• Clinical practice as a technician for at least two of the past four years.
• Either a transcript from an accredited program or VTNE scores.
• 16 hours of continuing education completed in the four years before applying.
• Verification of every credential held.

The endorsement route is why a technician moving from a state like Maryland or North Carolina usually needs less paperwork than a new graduate. A technician coming from a state with only voluntary association certification, such as Florida or New Jersey, does not qualify for endorsement on that certification and applies by exam instead. See which states do not license veterinary technicians.

Other pathways

The board also lists routes for two less common situations: a technician who is licensed elsewhere and passed the VTNE but did not graduate from an accredited program, and a graduate who is licensed and practicing elsewhere but never took the VTNE. Each has its own checklist on the board's site, and both depend on documented practice.

Veterinarians in Virginia

Veterinarians need a Virginia license from the board to practice in the state. The usual path is a degree from an accredited veterinary college (or an approved equivalency program), a passing NAVLE score sent by the AAVSB, and the board's application and verifications. A license from another state does not carry over, though experienced veterinarians can apply by endorsement. Our guide to moving states with a veterinary license covers the general process.

Reinstatement and reactivation

Virginia treats two situations differently:

• Reactivation is for someone whose license is current but inactive. They apply to return to active status and show the continuing education the board requires.
• Reinstatement is for a license that has been expired for more than one year. The board requires continuing education for each year the license was expired, up to a maximum of two years' worth, under section 54.1-3805.2 of the Code of Virginia and the board's CE regulation, 18VAC150-20-70.

For an employer, the difference matters. A candidate with a current inactive license is a short form away from working. A candidate whose license lapsed years ago may need weeks to reinstate.

What Virginia jobs pay

From Virginia postings that stated pay in Zuse's data in November 2026, the typical advertised rates were about $29.50 an hour for technicians (from 18 postings), $20.00 for assistants, $20.00 for client service and $140,000 a year for veterinarians. Virginia's technician figure was well above the national typical of $26.00. See what veterinary technician job ads pay, by state.

What this means for Virginia practices

• Say LVT, not "credentialed tech". In Virginia the license is required, so the post can be exact.
• If you hire from out of state, budget time for endorsement and plan the start date around it.
• Recognize licensure in pay. With strong demand, a stated range brings more applicants. See pay transparency in veterinary job postings.

How Zuse helps

Zuse Hire shows Virginia practices licensed veterinarians and LVTs nearby, each checked against the board's record. On Zuse Talent, Virginia veterinarians and technicians can claim their license and browse veterinarian jobs and vet tech jobs with pay shown.

Sources

• Virginia Department of Health Professions, Board of Veterinary Medicine, applicant instructions for veterinary technicians by examination and endorsement
• Virginia Department of Health Professions, License Lookup
• Code of Virginia, § 54.1-3805.2, and Virginia Administrative Code, 18VAC150-20-70
• Zuse, veterinary pay by state, November 11, 2026

Requirements change. Confirm the current rules with the Virginia Board of Veterinary Medicine before you apply or hire.

FAQ

Do vet techs need a license in Virginia?

Yes. Virginia licenses veterinary technicians as LVTs, and a license is required to practice as a technician in the state.

How do I look up a Virginia veterinary license?

Use the Department of Health Professions License Lookup. It covers veterinarians and veterinary technicians, including licenses expired since January 1, 2000.

Can I get a Virginia LVT by endorsement?

If you hold a current, unrestricted technician license from another US jurisdiction, have practiced for two of the past four years, have an accredited transcript or VTNE scores, and completed 16 CE hours in the past four years. An association certification does not count.

What if my Virginia license expired?

If it has been expired for more than a year, you apply for reinstatement and show continuing education for each year it was expired, up to two years' worth. A current inactive license is reactivated instead.

Does Virginia register veterinary practices?

Yes. Veterinary establishments register with the board separately from the people who work there.