In spring 2020, the Veterinary Nursing Program adopted its name after previously being known as the Veterinary Technology Program, after receiving approval from MSU Academic Governance. This change more accurately conveys the content of the Program and the type of careers available to its graduates.
The MSU College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Nursing Program offers two options:
- Certificate of Completion in Veterinary Nursing
- Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing
Key components of both programs include foundational courses focusing on anatomy, physiology, nutrition, animal diseases, comprehensive veterinary nursing, and clinical laboratory procedures. Courses incorporate hands-on learning and animal interaction to promote development of necessary skills.
As an AVMA-accredited Program, both Certificate of Completion and Bachelor of Science graduates are eligible to sit for the national board examination, the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE). Successful completion of the national examination is required for credentialing as a licensed, registered, or certified veterinary technician.
Annual Pass, Job Placement, and Graduation Rates
Our graduates perform well on their board exams each year. Below is a chart that shows the annual pass rate of our first-time test-takers for the past three years.
REPORTING YEARS JANUARY 1, 2023– DECEMBER 31, 2025
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Number of first-time candidates that have taken the VTNE within one year of graduation58
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Three-year VTNE pass percentage94.8%
Annual job placement rate: 100%
Graduation rate percentages; Fall 2022 cohort:
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Certificate pathway100%
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Second bachelor's degree pathway100%
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Bachelor's degree option 177%
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Bachelor's degree option 285%
Professional Licensure and Certification
Federal regulations require MSU to publicly disclose, for each educational program designed to meet the educational requirements for a specific professional license or certification required for employment in an occupation (or advertised as meeting those requirements), information about whether program completion would meet those requirements in a state. These public disclosure requirements apply to all programs, regardless of their modality (i.e., on-ground, online, and hybrid programs). MSU discloses the required information for its Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Nursing Programs in the document found on this page.
All current and prospective students are encouraged to contact the applicable professional licensure/certification boards in their respective states for additional information regarding professional licensure/certification requirements. Individuals enrolled or considering enrollment at the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine must complete two steps for licensure:
- Individuals must be a graduate of an American Veterinary Medical Association-accredited program
- Individuals must pass their national licensing exam:
- For the College’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program, the required exam is the NAVLE.
- For the College’s Veterinary Nursing Program, the required exam is the VTNE.
After meeting both these requirements, individuals should apply for licensure in the state(s) for which they wish to be licensed.
The information in the table should not be construed as guaranteeing that any particular professional licensure/certification authority will approve a student’s application; nor should the information in the table be read to imply that other requirements for professional licensure/certification do not exist or that other requirements for professional licensure/certification have been determined to have been met by MSU’s program/course, or that any necessary approvals for clinical or other experiential learning placements are secured by virtue of a student’s enrollment at MSU.
State professional licensure/certification requirements are subject to change at any time.
For licensing board contact information and approval status, please see the American Association of Veterinary State Boards at aavsb.org.
If you need assistance or have any questions, please contact the appropriate program:
- For the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program: cvm.studentsupport@cvm.msu.edu
- For the Veterinary Nursing Program: cvm.vetnursing@cvm.msu.edu