Cal. Bus. & Prof. Code § 4841.4

(a) The board, by means of examination, shall determine the professional qualifications of all applicants who wish to register as veterinary technicians in California. A registration shall not be issued to anyone who has not demonstrated their competency by examination.
(b) The examination for veterinary technicians shall consist of a national licensing examination.
(c) For examination purposes, the board may make contractual arrangements on a sole source basis with organizations furnishing examination material as it may deem desirable and shall be exempt from Section 10115 of the Public Contract Code.