Transferring to Colorado

Obtaining a CACVT Credential by Endorsement

Are you a Certified, Licensed, or Registered Veterinary Technician in another state and relocating to, or working in, Colorado? You may be eligible to apply for a CACVT Credential by Endorsement.

In Colorado, veterinary technicians must obtain and maintain both an active CACVT credential and active DORA registration. These are separate but connected requirements, and both must be renewed biennially to remain current.

Did you originally obtain a registration from DORA prior to 2/12/2026 and now you need a CACVT credential to renew your DORA registration this fall? Click Here for more details!

Please read all the following information before submitting your CACVT Credential by Endorsement application.

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– Eligibility and Requirements –

Individuals who are eligible to apply for a CACVT Credential by Endorsement must meet the following requirements:

Hold, or previously held within CACVT’s allowable late endorsement timeframe, a veterinary technician credential in another state or province.*

Have verification sent directly to CACVT from the issuing credentialing entity showing the credential is or was in good standing with no disciplinary action.

Graduated from an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program

Passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE)

* This pathway may also be available to individuals whose out-of-state veterinary technician credential has expired, if the credential is within CACVT’s allowable late endorsement timeframe. If your out-of-state credential is expired, additional CE and fees may apply based on the credential expiration date and CACVT credentialing cycle policies. Contact CACVT if you have additional questions about an expired out-of-state credential. If your out-of-state credential expired outside CACVT’s allowable late endorsement timeframe, you are not eligible to apply through Credential by Endorsement using that expired credential. You may need to retake the VTNE and apply through Credential by Examination, if eligible.

Please note, Colorado’s title protection laws require all individuals using the title veterinary technician to be registered with DORA, which is Step Two of the two-step process. Find out more on our Credentialing FAQs page.

– How to Apply –

Applicants who meet the requirements for CACVT Credential by Endorsement noted above should complete the application below.

The CACVT Credential by Endorsement process includes submission and approval of the following:

Complete the application for CACVT Credential by Endorsement (see blue link below)
Request that a letter of good standing or state verification be sent directly to information@cacvt.org from the out-of-state credentialing entity. If your credential can be verified through a public primary source lookup, CACVT may use that source for verification.
Request official transcripts be sent digitally and directly to CACVT from your AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program or an official transcript service, such as Parchment. Transcripts submitted by the applicant cannot be accepted.
Confirm that passing VTNE scores are available for CACVT review:
- If you passed the VTNE in Colorado on or after January 1, 2009, CACVT has access to the AAVSB score report on file for verification.
- If you passed the VTNE in another state, or if you passed the VTNE before January 1, 2009, you must request a Basic VAULT Transfer through AAVSB.
  - If Colorado was not selected as your preferred or primary credentialing jurisdiction on your original VTNE application, an online score VAULT transfer through AAVSB must be requested and received by CACVT before your application is eligible for processing.
    - The jurisdiction to choose when completing a Basic VAULT transfer service application is the Colorado State Board of Veterinary Medicine.
Pay all applicable CACVT credentialing fees and submit any required CE, if applicable**.

**2-year CACVT credentialing cycle: All credentials are valid from July 1 of each EVEN year – June 30 of the following EVEN year, and must be renewed before the expiration date. Credential by Endorsement fees and CE requirements are based on the status and expiration date of the out-of-state credential used for the application. If your out-of-state credential is expired, CACVT may require delinquent credentialing fees, a late fee, and continuing education for each missed credentialing cycle.

Once your CACVT Credential by Endorsement application is approved, you will receive an approval email with next steps for applying for or maintaining DORA registration. A CACVT credential alone does not authorize protected veterinary technician title use in Colorado.

– “Before You Apply” Checklist –

Before starting your application, please have the following ready:

Your out-of-state credential information and expiration date

A copy of your most recent out-of-state veterinary technician credential or the Primary Source website used for verification.

Your AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program information

Confirmation that official transcripts have been requested from the official source (Either your AVMA-accredited veterinary technician program or Parchment.) No transcripts will be accepted from applicants.

Your VTNE testing state, date passed, and candidate ID, if known

Confirmation that any required VAULT transfer has been requested through AAVSB if not already accessible to CACVT.

Complete and log any CE within your CACVT CE log that is required based on your out-of-state credential expiration date, if applicable

If your credential has expired, you will need to submit CE that follows the CACVT CE Guidelines for each expired credential cycle.

See the below FAQs for a full breakdown of CE requirements based on your out-of-state credential expiration date.

Payment for your credential

If your out-of-state credential expires after 6/30/2026, the credentialing fee for the 2026 – 2028 credentialing cycle is $100.
If your out-of-state credential has expired, you will need to submit payment for all past-due credentialing fees, the 2026 – 2028 credentialing fee, and a Late Fee.

See the below FAQs for a full breakdown of credentialing fees based on your out-of-state credential expiration date.

– Application FAQ –

I already registered with DORA by endorsement prior to the 2/12/2026 rules change. Is this the right application?

If you already hold or previously held Colorado DORA registration as a veterinary technician that was obtained by endorsement prior to the rules change that took place on 2/12/2026, please review CACVT’s Credential by DORA Endorsement information before completing this application.

Can I submit my own transcript from my AVMA-accredited veterinary technician program?

No. Official transcripts must be sent digitally and directly to CACVT from your AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program or an official transcript service, such as Parchment. Transcripts submitted by the applicant cannot be accepted.

My Colorado-based AVMA-accredited veterinary technician program closed. How do I send my official transcripts?

We recommend checking the Colorado Division of Private Occupational Schools website and performing a Student Records Request, if applicable.

If you need to pursue this avenue, please email information@cacvt.org when applying to let them know your transcripts could face a delay due to this reason.

My out-of-state credential has expired, how many hours of CE do I need to submit and how do I start logging hours in my CACVT log?

If your credential has expired, you will need to submit CE that follows the CACVT CE Guidelines for each expired credential cycle noted below:

Individuals whose out-of-state credential expires after 6/30/2026 do not need to submit CE for their initial credential application.
Individuals whose out-of-state credential expired between 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2026 will need to submit 20 hours of CE
Individuals whose out-of-state credential expired between 7/1/2022 – 6/30/2024 will need to submit 40 hours of CE
Individuals whose out-of-state credential expired between 7/1/2020 – 6/30/2022 will need to submit 60 hours of CE
Individuals whose out-of-state credential expired on or before 6/30/2020 are no longer eligible for CACVT credential. Please email information@cacvt.org for more information.

If you need to create a CACVT.org account to start logging CE, please email information@cacvt.org to move forward with this process.

Questions about logging CE?
See the CACVT Continuing Education FAQ

My out-of-state credential has expired, what fees do I owe to obtain a CACVT credential at this time?

If your out-of-state credential has expired, you will need to submit payment for all past-due credentialing fees noted below, along with the 2026 – 2028 fee, and a Late Fee.

See the fee schedule below based on your out-of-state credential’s expiration date:

Out-of-state credentials expiring after 6/30/2026
- 2026 – 2028 cycle fee – $100
Out-of-state credentials expiring between 7/1/2024 – 6/30/2026
- 2026 – 2028 cycle fee – $100
- 2024 – 2026 cycle fee – $150
- Late Fee – $100
Out-of-state credentials expiring between 7/1/2022 – 6/30/2024
- 2026 – 2028 cycle fee – $100
- 2024 – 2026 cycle fee – $150
- 2022 – 2024 cycle fee – $152
- Late Fee – $100
Out-of-state credentials expiring between 7/1/2020 – 6/30/2022
- 2026 – 2028 cycle fee – $100
- 2024 – 2026 cycle fee – $150
- 2022 – 2024 cycle fee – $152
- 2020 – 2022 cycle fee – $152
- Late Fee – $100
Out-of-state credentials expiring on or before 6/30/2020
- No longer eligible for CACVT credential. Please email information@cacvt.org for more information.

What is the difference between a CACVT credential and a CACVT membership? Do I need to be a member of CACVT's professional association to be credentialed?

No – Individuals seeking a CACVT credential do not need to also be a member of CACVT’s professional association. This is an optional add-on that you may choose to pursue.

CACVT serves Colorado’s veterinary technician community in both roles: as the credentialing organization (credential verification and maintenance) and as the professional association (member support and professional development).

A CACVT credential is the required credentialing step for veterinary technicians in Colorado. CACVT verifies that an applicant meets the eligibility requirements for their pathway and confirms eligibility to register with the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) as a Registered Veterinary Technician (RVT).

A membership with CACVT’s professional association is optional and is separate from credentialing. Membership is not required to apply for or maintain a CACVT credential, but it provides access to professional association benefits, community resources, and programming.

Click Here to see more about optional membership with CACVT’s Professional Association

Ready to Apply for CACVT Credential by Endorsement?

Click Here to Apply Now!

Have Additional Questions?

Start with our CACVT Credentialing FAQs →
They provide answers to the most common questions about CACVT Credentialing.

If your question isn’t addressed there, we’re happy to help:
Email: information@cacvt.org
Text: 303-318-0652

Obtaining a CACVT Credential by Endorsement

Jump to a Location:

– Eligibility and Requirements –

Individuals who are eligible to apply for a CACVT Credential by Endorsement must meet the following requirements:

Hold, or previously held within CACVT’s allowable late endorsement timeframe, a veterinary technician credential in another state or province.*

Have verification sent directly to CACVT from the issuing credentialing entity showing the credential is or was in good standing with no disciplinary action.

Graduated from an AVMA-accredited veterinary technology program

Passed the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE)