Kimberly King, CVT, shares her unique path into veterinary medicine and why imaging became her professional passion. Now at Veterinary Diagnostic Centers, Kim helps run the Schaumburg location and is training to become an ultrasound sonographer. She walks listeners through what a fear-free, one-patient-at-a-time ultrasound practice looks like, including how cases are supported and how results get back to the primary veterinarian. Kim also offers practical radiology tips for veterinary teams, with an emphasis on obtaining the right view for the clinical question, improving image quality, and avoiding the “catagram” approach whenever possible. The conversation highlights hands-free radiology fundamentals, positioning tools, and when sedation can help teams get diagnostic images safely and efficiently. Kim also speaks candidly about VTNE test anxiety, her own experience retesting, and how preparation includes both content review and test-taking strategies.

Bio

Kimberly King, CVT, began her animal career in wildlife and zoological settings before transitioning into small animal practice. After years in general practice and a strong interest in diagnostic imaging, she joined Veterinary Diagnostic Centers, where she runs the Schaumburg location and is training to become an ultrasound sonographer. She is also an instructor for the ISVMA VTNE Master Class program, focusing on radiology and safety.

In this episode

• Kim’s career path from big cat internships and zoo work to becoming a CVT in Chicagoland
• What a fear-free, owner-present, ultrasound-only clinic model looks like day to day
• Radiology fundamentals: take the right image for the right diagnostic question, not “whole body and hope”
• Hands-free radiology: positioning tools, efficiency, and when sedation supports safety and better images
• VTNE reality check: test anxiety, retesting, and preparing your mindset along with the material

Whether you are a veterinary technician student gearing up for the VTNE, a practice owner mentoring a vet tech hopeful, or a CVT who has been putting off licensure, this episode is for you. Channing Benson, Program Manager of the Exams Department at the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB), joins the Veterinary Today Podcast to pull back the curtain on everything VTNE-related.

Channing oversees the VTNE from creation to administration and brings a clear, candid perspective to a process that can feel overwhelming. In this conversation, she walks through who is eligible to sit for the exam, how Illinois candidates in particular should approach the application process, what to expect on test day whether you choose live remote proctoring or a testing center, how scores are reported, and what resources the AAVSB offers to help candidates prepare and succeed. If you have questions about the VTNE, this episode answers them.

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SHOW NOTES

In this episode:

• What the VTNE is, who is eligible to take it, and how the application process works, including Illinois-specific eligibility requirements
• The two testing options available to candidates: live remote proctoring at home and in-person testing centers, and what each experience actually looks like
• How the AAVSB's exam content outline serves as a blueprint for the entire test, including domain breakdowns, task statements, and question distribution
• Cost, exam length, test day logistics, and what to do if your name does not match your application
• What happens after you submit: how pass/fail results are delivered, how long scores are available in your portal, and what the 31-day retake policy looks like

Resources mentioned:

AAVSB website: https://aavsb.org

VTNE study page and exam content outline: https://aavsb.org (navigate to the VTNE section, then Study Resources)

AAVSB Practice Advance: available through the AAVSB website

Celebrating Diversity Award (exam voucher opportunity): https://aavsb.org

ISVMA VTNE Masterclass Series: available on demand through ISVMA

Connect with Channing and the AAVSB:

Website: https://aavsb.org Email: vettech@aavsb.org

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