Pennsylvania Veterinary Licensing Explained: CVTs, What They May Do, CE and the November 30 Renewal

Pennsylvania has a large and varied veterinary workforce, from small animal hospitals around Philadelphia and Pittsburgh to dairy and equine practices across the rest of the state. Its rules for technicians are among the most specific in the country: the state's regulations list, task by task, what a certified veterinary technician may do and how closely a veterinarian must supervise it.

This guide explains how Pennsylvania licenses veterinarians and certifies technicians, what that means for daily work, and what to know about the current renewal.

The renewal deadline

Pennsylvania renews veterinary licenses and technician certifications every two years. The current veterinarian licenses and technician certifications expire on November 30, 2026. If you hold one, check that your renewal is filed and that your continuing education is complete. A practice should check, after December 1, that everyone on its schedule shows a current status.

Who regulates veterinary medicine in Pennsylvania

The State Board of Veterinary Medicine sits within the Department of State's Bureau of Professional and Occupational Affairs. It licenses veterinarians, certifies veterinary technicians, and handles complaints and discipline. Its rules are in Chapter 31 of Title 49 of the Pennsylvania Code.

How to verify a Pennsylvania license

The Department of State publishes license verification for every profession it regulates through the Pennsylvania Licensing System (PALS). To verify someone:

1. Search by license number when you can.
2. Confirm the type: veterinarian or certified veterinary technician.
3. Read the status and expiration date. After November 30, 2026, a license or certification that has not been renewed is no longer current.
4. Check for disciplinary action and read any final order.
5. Save the number, the status and the date you checked.

See how to verify a veterinary license and what each license status means.

Certified veterinary technicians

Pennsylvania's technician credential is the certified veterinary technician (CVT). The standard route is graduation from an AVMA accredited veterinary technology program and a passing score on the VTNE, followed by the board's application. See our VTNE guide.

What a CVT may do

Section 31.31 of the board's rules sets out a CVT's scope in two lists.

Only under direct veterinary supervision, a CVT may:

• Administer anesthesia, including induction, intubation, maintenance and recovery, and intravenous sedation.
• Perform dental prophylaxis.
• Establish an open airway.
• Administer resuscitative oxygen, external cardiac resuscitation and resuscitative drugs in cardiac arrest.

Under indirect veterinary supervision, a CVT may:

• Perform diagnostic imaging and intravenous catheterization.
• Give immunizations not required by law to be given in a veterinarian's presence.
• Administer medications and treatments, including intramuscular, intravenous and subcutaneous routes.
• Apply bandages, splints and immobilizing bandages.
• Perform cardiac monitoring, control bleeding, flush ears and implant microchips.

Two details matter in practice:

• If the animal is under anesthesia, the indirect supervision tasks require direct supervision instead.
• In a life threatening emergency, a CVT may act without supervision using the listed tasks, and must immediately seek a veterinarian's direct supervision.

The rule also allows a CVT to perform unlisted services that are within their skills, are a usual part of the veterinarian's practice, and are requested by the supervising veterinarian. Throughout, the veterinarian bears final responsibility for making sure the technician is competent for each task.

Veterinary assistants

The same section sets a narrower list for veterinary assistants, under direct or immediate supervision. The practical effect is that the anesthesia and advanced nursing tasks above are CVT work. A practice that relies on assistants for induction or IV catheters is operating outside the rules. Our post on vet techs in general practice, emergency and specialty explains why using technicians fully matters for both staffing and retention.

Continuing education

The board's notice is clear: veterinarians must complete 30 hours and veterinary technicians 16 hours of board approved CE in the 24 months before renewal.

For veterinarians, section 31.15 adds:

• No more than 25% of the hours may come from individual study or correspondence courses with third party verification.
• Office management and practice building courses do not count.
• Keep a list of courses and certificates for at least five years.

Pennsylvania's child abuse CE requirement under Act 31 of 2014 does not apply to the veterinary board, and those courses do not count toward veterinary CE.

What Pennsylvania jobs pay

From Pennsylvania postings that stated pay in Zuse's data in November 2026, the typical advertised rate was about $24.00 an hour for technicians, with the middle half from $22.75 to $26.75, and about $18.00 an hour for assistants. Both are below the national typical figures of $26.00 and $19.50. See what veterinary technician job ads pay, by state.

What this means for practices

• Write "CVT" in the post when the role involves anesthesia, catheters or dentistry, because those tasks require it.
• Check certification after November 30. Renewal season is when lapses happen.
• Use CVTs to the top of the scope. The rule gives them a long list of indirect supervision tasks, which frees veterinarians' time.

How Zuse helps

Zuse Hire shows Pennsylvania practices the licensed veterinarians and CVTs nearby, checked against the state record. On Zuse Talent, Pennsylvania veterinarians and technicians can claim their license and browse vet tech jobs and veterinarian jobs with pay shown.

Sources

• Pennsylvania Code, Title 49, § 31.31, Scope of practice, and § 31.15, Continuing education
• Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medicine, Announcements
• Pennsylvania Veterinary Medical Association, notice of the November 30, 2026 expiration
• Zuse, veterinary pay by state, November 12, 2026

Rules change. Confirm the current requirements with the Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medicine.

FAQ

When do Pennsylvania veterinary licenses expire?

The current veterinarian licenses and technician certifications expire on November 30, 2026. Renewal is every two years.

How many CE hours do Pennsylvania veterinarians and technicians need?

Veterinarians need 30 hours and certified veterinary technicians 16 hours of board approved CE in the 24 months before renewal.

Can a CVT induce anesthesia in Pennsylvania?

Yes, but only under direct veterinary supervision. The same applies to intubation, intravenous sedation and dental prophylaxis.

What can a CVT do under indirect supervision in Pennsylvania?

Diagnostic imaging, IV catheters, non required vaccinations, injections, bandaging and splinting, cardiac monitoring, bleeding control, ear flushes and microchips. If the animal is anesthetized, these require direct supervision.

Does Pennsylvania's child abuse CE apply to veterinarians?

No. The board states that Act 31 of 2014 does not apply to its licensees, and those courses do not count toward veterinary CE.