Veterinary ScienceFFA prep guide for 2026-27

About this event

The event is built on two case scenarios. Each member earns up to 100 points for general knowledge, shown during the scenario work, 100 for scenario math questions, and 100 for identifying equipment, parasites, breeds and anatomy. Each member also does up to eight practicums of about 6 minutes each, talking the judge through every step: clinical tasks are worth 50 and handling and restraint tasks 30, for 160 to 400 in all. The team then gets 15 minutes to prepare and up to 15 minutes to present its findings to judges and answer their questions, worth 300. Individual totals run 460 to 700 and team totals 2,140 to 3,100. Teams have four members and all four scores count. No event-specific grade limits are printed. Scrubs or a polo with slacks are required, with closed-toe, closed-heel flat shoes and only stud earrings, a plain wedding band or a medical alert item. National FFA provides pencils, calculators, clipboards and paper, and having an electronic device in the event area can mean disqualification. The 2027 Scenario Resource Guide, out in January 2027, will set the year's practicums and rubrics. State winners go on to the national event, held with the 100th National FFA Convention and Expo, Oct 27 to 30, 2027, in Indianapolis.

1. 1

   Read the handbook and the sheet

   Everything is scored on the scorecard below. The official handbook has the rules and how the event runs on the day.

   Official handbook (opens in a new tab)
2. 2

   Learn what judges score

   Know every row of the sheet before the day, biggest rows first: it is what judges look for.

   See the sheet
3. 3

   Rehearse the presentation

   Type or say your presentation. The judge scores it on the official scorecard and times you against the 15-minute limit.

   Get judged on your presentation
4. 4

   Rehearse to the clock

   You have 15 minutes. Time every run, out loud, start to finish.

Official reference sources

Listed in the official FFA handbook.

• Small Animal Care and Management by Warren, ISBN 978-1-4180-4105-2 (paid book)
• McCurnin's Clinical Textbook for Vet Technicians, 10th and 11th editions, ISBN 978-1-4377-2690-0 (paid book)
• Laboratory Procedures for Veterinary Technicians by Margi Sirois, 7th edition, ISBN 9780323595384 (paid book)
• Veterinary Instruments and Equipment: A Pocket Guide by Sonsthagen, ISBN 978-0323032032 (paid book)
• Medical Mathematics and Dosage Calculations for Veterinary Professionals by Robert Bill, ISBN printed as 978-08138263 (paid book)
• National Vet Science Math Practicum Units of Measurement, FFA.org (free FFA sheet of units, formulas and conversions)

Curated by ChapterPrep. Free unless noted. External links open in a new tab.

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