What Happens If You Fail the VTNE? Retakes, Windows, and Next Steps
If you do not pass the Veterinary Technician National Examination (VTNE), you can apply to retake it, but the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) caps candidates at 5 total attempts before requiring Board of Directors approval to try again. AAVSB permits one attempt per 30 day period, meaning you are eligible to retake starting 31 days after your previous attempt, and in practice your retake date is governed by the next scheduled VTNE testing window, since AAVSB offers the exam in windows across the year rather than continuously. Each retake requires a brand new online application and the full $375 application fee (as of October 2026); there is no discounted or automatic retake option. You see your pass/fail status on screen immediately after finishing, and the score report posts to your AAVSB portal within 3 business days (for your use only; it is not valid for licensure), while AAVSB sends your official result to the state or provincial board you designated on a separate track that determines your actual licensing status. Attempts are counted starting from exams taken on or after January 1, 2006, so older attempts under different rules do not apply toward today’s 5 attempt limit. Here is exactly what happens after a failed VTNE attempt, what your options are, and what to do next.
Figures current as of October 2026 per AAVSB’s VTNE retake and scoring pages. Fees and policies can change; confirm current terms on AAVSB’s site before you reapply.
What Your Score Report Actually Tells You
After you finish the VTNE, you see your pass/fail status on screen immediately. AAVSB then posts your score report to your AAVSB portal within 3 business days. AAVSB is explicit that this portal copy is for your personal reference only and is not part of the licensing process. Your official result, the one that actually determines your eligibility for licensure or registration, is sent separately by PSI and AAVSB directly to the jurisdiction you selected when you applied, within 72 hours. In practice, that means checking your portal tells you whether you passed or failed quickly, but your state or provincial board is working from its own official copy, not your personal portal view.
You Can Retake the VTNE, Within Limits
A failed attempt is not the end of the road. AAVSB allows candidates up to 5 total attempts at the VTNE, counting exams taken on or after January 1, 2006. For most jurisdictions, attempts 2 through 5 just need a new application and fee. All Canadian provinces, Indiana, Tennessee, and Missouri require their regulatory board’s approval after 3 attempts, and Missouri will not accept scores beyond a 4th attempt. Once you pass 5 attempts, the process changes: you need a letter sent directly to AAVSB from your jurisdiction plus a written statement describing how you prepared for the next attempt; board review can take up to 45 days. There is also a minimum wait: you must wait at least 31 days after a prior attempt and may test no more than 3 times in a calendar year.
| Attempt number | What is required |
|---|---|
| Attempts 2 through 5 | New online application and full $375 fee, eligibility starting 31 days after your last attempt, and no more than 3 attempts per calendar year. All Canadian provinces, Indiana, Tennessee, and Missouri require their regulatory board’s approval after 3 attempts; Missouri accepts no scores beyond a 4th attempt |
| 6 and beyond | New application, full fee, plus a letter sent directly to AAVSB from your jurisdiction and a written statement describing how you prepared for the next attempt; board review can take up to 45 days |
State and Provincial Boards Can Set Their Own Rules
AAVSB’s 5 attempt limit is the national floor, not necessarily the whole picture. AAVSB states directly that some jurisdictions impose more stringent retake requirements than AAVSB’s own policy, including requiring prior approval from your state or provincial board before you retake the exam at all, independent of how many attempts AAVSB itself would otherwise permit. Because these rules vary by location and are set by your individual credentialing board rather than by AAVSB, check your specific jurisdiction’s requirements through AAVSB’s Regulatory Board Look-Up tool or directly with your board before you assume the 5 attempt national limit is the only rule that applies to you.
What to Do After a Failed Attempt
First, confirm your result (you see pass/fail on screen right after the exam, and the score report posts to your AAVSB portal within 3 business days), remembering that this copy is for your own reference and your state board’s official copy is what actually governs your licensing timeline. Second, check your specific state or provincial board’s retake requirements, since some boards add conditions beyond AAVSB’s national policy. Third, once you are eligible to retest, that is, you are eligible (31 days after your last attempt) and within your first 5 attempts, submit a new VTNE application and pay the $375 fee to secure your next testing window. If you are approaching or past 5 attempts, start the process with AAVSB early (the jurisdiction letter and your written preparation statement), since board review can take up to 45 days and you cannot be scheduled until it is complete. In the time between attempts, focus your review on the content areas where your original preparation was thinnest rather than repeating a generic review of everything, since a repeat attempt is most useful when it targets specific gaps rather than re covering ground you already know well.
Before you reapply, see how much the VTNE costs and how hard the VTNE is.
Getting ready for a retake, or want to walk into your first attempt with fewer surprises? Try our VTNE practice test to work through original questions across all 10 content domains, or start with a free VTNE practice test to see where your knowledge stands right now.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can you retake the VTNE?
AAVSB allows up to 5 attempts, counted from exams taken on or after January 1, 2006. Beyond 5 attempts, you need a letter sent directly to AAVSB from your jurisdiction plus a written statement describing how you prepared for the next attempt; board review can take up to 45 days.
How soon can I retake the VTNE after failing?
AAVSB permits one attempt per 30 day period, meaning you are eligible to retake starting 31 days after your previous attempt. The exam is offered in scheduled testing windows rather than continuously, so your actual retake date is the later of that 31 day mark and the next window you can apply for. You may also test no more than 3 times in a calendar year.
Do I pay the full fee again if I fail the VTNE?
Yes. Every retake requires a brand new online application and the full $375 fee (as of October 2026). AAVSB does not offer a reduced rate for repeat candidates.
Will my state board see my VTNE score even if I do not check my portal?
Yes. AAVSB and PSI send your official score directly to the state or provincial board you designated when you applied, on a separate track from your personal MyAAVSB portal copy, within 72 hours. You also see your pass/fail status on screen immediately after finishing.
Sources
- AAVSB, Retake the VTNE
- AAVSB, Getting Your VTNE Score
- AAVSB, Applying to Take the VTNE
- AAVSB, VTNE Candidate Information Handbook (September 2026)
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For educational and exam preparation purposes only. Not a substitute for formal clinical training.
