Accepted Candidates: click here to complete the examination information form

Starting in 2027, the AIMVT certifying exam will be administered remotely two Saturdays prior to the start of ACVIM Forum.  If that Saturday falls on the Memorial Day holiday in the US, the exam will be held on the Saturday prior to the state of ACVIM Forum.  In 2027, the certifying exam will be held on Saturday June 12, 2027.
The fee for the remote exam is $250
You are required to have access to a computer in a secure room, for more information on equipment requirements see ExamSoft.
A remote proctor who meets the requirements of AIMVT must be utilized.
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General Examination Information:

  • The AIMVT study guide is designed to cover a broad array of information, reflecting the extensive range of subjects within Internal Medicine. The guide is based on the current role delineation study that polled credentialed technicians working primarily in Internal Medicine about their daily tasks. The AIMVT Domains/Tasks, Knowledge, and Skills Lists were derived from this study. The Knowledge List outlines potential topics that may be covered in the exam, drawn from AIMVT’s large item bank. The percentages of the domains and tasks have been added into the study guides to help focus your studies.
  • Depth and Breadth: The AIMVT exam evaluates both the breadth and depth of your knowledge, emphasizing the level of detail and understanding of each topic. Internal medicine covers a wide range of diseases and complex cases, so focusing study on key areas is crucial. Identify high-priority topics that frequently appear in practice and consider rarer conditions as lower priorities, reviewing them only after covering core material. The weighted domains act as a roadmap, highlighting areas that are more frequently required of a VTS and therefore require deeper understanding of cases and practical applications. Only you can gauge the areas where you feel confident and where you need further depth. Use a variety of resources to strengthen your knowledge, focusing on practical, high-frequency topics to build the problem-solving skills necessary for real-world scenarios and the exam, especially those with higher domain weights. 
  • General Internal Medicine: General internal medicine questions will be focused on the universal advanced skills reference list provided for all specialties. These are skills that Credentialed Veterinary Technicians (CrVTs) who have been working in their specialty for the minimum required three years must master prior to applying for their VTS. For example, a question about indirect blood pressure might appear on any exam. 
  • Exam Format: The exam is administered via ExamSoft, a digital platform used by many institutions, including for the Bar examination. Each specialty exam contains 200 questions, about 80% of which are multiple-choice. Other formats, like matching, drop-down lists, and image selections, may also be included. There are no essay questions. Exams can be taken remotely on your laptop, computer, or tablet. For more information, visit Learning Assessment Tools & Software at examsoft.com
  • Study Materials: The texts listed are suggested study materials, not meant to be read in their entirety. The extensive list aims to ensure that at least some material is readily available. The recommended reading list should augment hands-on experience and knowledge, not replace it. It is also strongly suggested to read any articles published by AIMVT members, as these are written by those who create the questions.
  • Degree of detail: Each year candidates are given an opportunity to reflect on the credentialing and examination process for AIMVT, aiming to continually improve both. The application process allows candidates to showcase their skills in patient care and case management, while the exam aims to objectively identify which candidates can apply their understanding and knowledge to their specialty. In previous years, there have been requests for the academy to provide more detailed and very specific study guides on examination topics. After careful consideration and a review of other credentialing processes in veterinary medicine, the academy has decided to maintain the current format in order to maintain standards. The provided knowledge and domain lists will continue to be updated as needed but will retain their general format and degree of generality for the foreseeable future.
  • International Candidates: The exam is developed for US candidates, so there may be information specific to the United States. Every effort has been made to minimize this, but understanding US-specific information is expected.
  • Study Tips: Only you can determine which information you are comfortable with and what needs further study. By using various sources, you should find overlaps and reinforce known information. Review the domains and percentages to develop a personal study guide focusing on areas where you need improvement.
  • Start Early: Do not wait for your application to be accepted to begin studying. As soon as you decide to apply, start looking at each case to understand the “why and wherefore.” Use this information to help develop your study guide.
  • Mentorship: Use mentors (current VTS), doctors, and other candidates to clarify information, improve study habits, and practice skills.
  • Exam Attempts: You have three years from your acceptance to sit for and pass the examination.  For example, if your application is accepted in December 2026 you may sit for the exam in June 2027, June 2028, and June 2029.  If you do not pass the final attempt, you will need to re-apply.  
  • AIMVT does not release individual exam scores as a matter of policy. This protects both candidates and the integrity of the examination. Our exam is designed to determine whether a candidate meets the established competency standard, not to rank or compare examinees. Numerical scores can easily be misinterpreted and may not reflect true competency due to psychometric scaling, multiple exam forms, and item‑bank calibration. Additionally, withholding scores helps maintain exam security and fairness across years. Because our exam evolves annually, raw scores are not directly comparable between candidates or exam cycles.
    ​Postponement and Accommodations: The Academy recognizes circumstances may arise that preclude an accepted applicant from sitting for the exam. See our Consensus Statement on Exam Postponement HERE. Disability accommodations are available. Submit the necessary documentation and specific accommodation requests to the AIMVT Executive Director three (3) months prior to the exam date.  

Wondering when the exam will be held?

The AIMVT examination is administered two Saturdays prior to the start of ACVIM Forum.  For a list of upcoming dates for ACVIM Forum, click the button: