NAVLE

If you are applying to take the NAVLE in order to obtain a license to practice veterinary medicine in Canada, please contact the Canadian National Examining Board  (NEB) at neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org.

If you are applying to take the NAVLE for the purpose of being licensed by a U.S. state or territorial veterinary licensing agency, you must submit TWO NAVLE applications- ICVA NAVLE application, and a NAVLE state/territorial application.  However, if you choose one of the states that ICVA processes the state portion of the application, you will only need to fill out the NAVLE online application and pay the fees on the ICVA website.

No Board Option

Beginning with the November – December 2024 NAVLE testing window, there will be a ‘No Board’ option on the on-line NAVLE application.  Candidates can select the ‘No Board’ option if they are unsure of where they will be seeking licensure.

The NAVLE application is required to obtain licensure to practice veterinary medicine in all licensing jurisdictions in US and Canada. The applications and corresponding fee(s) must be submitted directly to the ICVA by the ICVA application receipt deadline.

• NAVLE application submission- All candidates applying through a U.S. state or territorial licensing agencies may submit the ICVA NAVLE application directly to the ICVA online. Online application fees must be paid by Visa or MasterCard.

• Application deadline- The deadline for the NAVLE application to be received in the ICVA office is August 1 for the November–December testing window, and February 1 for the April testing window for all candidates.

The NAVLE state/territorial application is required to for approval to take the NAVLE. The application must be submitted to one licensing board (or to your board's designated NAVLE processor) by your board's (or processor's) application receipt deadline. That board (or processor) must approve your state NAVLE application, and notify the ICVA of that approval, for you to be eligible to take the NAVLE.

• NAVLE State application submission- NAVLE application procedures for individual state licensing board vary. The ICVA processes state NAVLE applications on behalf of many licensing boards, some boards have a separate NAVLE application processor, and some boards process their own applications. For each testing window, submit your state/territorial NAVLE application and fee payment according to that licensing board’s preferences and deadlines.

The application process varies state by state. Our NAVLE Application Procedure Chart provides an overview of licensing board NAVLE application procedures, including application deadline and state-by-state processes for contacting your board. Select your state or region to find information regarding both National NAVLE application and State NAVLE application.

It is your responsibility to make sure both the ICVA and your licensing board office (or your board's designated NAVLE processor) have received all the necessary application paperwork and fees by their deadlines in order for you to be registered and approved to take the NAVLE.

The NAVLE is scored after the close of each testing window.  Scores are reported to licensing boards and to candidates approximately 4-5 weeks after the close of each testing window. Your initial NAVLE score will be reported to the board that approved you to take the examination, at no additional cost to you. For information on transferring your score to additional licensing boards through AAVSB.  The New Interactive NAVLE Score Report sample is explained and can be viewed here.  If you need an duplicate score report for your own personal use from your past NAVLE administration, you can order one here.  No refunds are granted for this purchase. 

Once approved to take the examination, you will be issued a NAVLE Scheduling and Admission Permit approximately 45 days prior to the opening of that testing window. For additional information on permits and the appointment scheduling process, please refer to the NAVLE Scheduling and Admission Permit page of this site.

Follow the email instructions to obtain your permit. Be sure to print the permit, as you will use it to schedule your testing appointment. You will also need to present the printed permit or an electronic version when arriving at the Prometric testing center.

Review your first and last names on your permit and compare them to your first and last names as listed on your government-issued, signed, photo identification (e.g., driver's license or passport) you plan to use for admission into the testing center. Your first and last names on your permit must exactly match your first and last names on your ID or you will not be allowed to test.  Electronic versions of your ID are not acceptable.  If you need to correct or update your name(s) or other information, you can do it here.

If your ID and permit names do not match, contact our office immediately to get your record corrected, a revised permit will need to be processed for you. If you anticipate a name change prior to your test date, such as due to a change in marital status, be aware that whatever name appears on your ID must be the same name that appears on your permit. Name changes or corrections cannot be made within 7 business days of a scheduled testing date.

You are required to enter your chosen testing region location when you submit your NAVLE Application, and that information is incorporated into your eligibility record. Prometric will not allow you to make a testing appointment at a location outside your chosen testing region.

Please note that Scheduling and Admission Permits are valid only for the dates listed on the permit for a single NAVLE testing window.

Scheduling and Admission Permits are confidential and are intended solely for the use of the individual candidate named on the permit. If you access a permit and are not the named candidate, you are strictly prohibited from disclosing, copying, distributing, or taking any action regarding the permit contents.

A sample of the NAVLE Scheduling and Admission Permit is available here.

The NAVLE is administered in Prometric Test Centers in the U.S., U.S. Territories, and Canada, and at selected overseas Prometric Testing Centers in Africa, Asia, Australia/New Zealand, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. For additional information on available testing centers within these testing regions, please refer to the Prometric website.

• Permit required for scheduling- To schedule your testing appointment you must access and print your online Scheduling and Admission Permit, as it contains a unique scheduling number that is required during the Prometric scheduling process.

• Schedule early- Schedule your testing appointment with Prometric when you are notified of your permit availability. Appointments are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis, so if you delay scheduling an appointment, you may not receive the location or test date you prefer. Additional scheduling information can be found in the NAVLE Candidate Bulletin. 

• Prometric scheduling- Contact Prometric to schedule your testing appointment, either online or by calling the Prometric phone number indicated on your permit. You must provide the scheduling number located on the upper left portion of your permit.

  • Candidates with documented disabilities- Candidates who have been granted test accommodations will have special information on their permit and must call Prometric to schedule their testing appointment. They do not have the option to schedule online through the Prometric website.

  • Online scheduling instructions- For candidates scheduling online, the "Test Sponsor" listed on the page should be the International Council for Veterinary Assessment.

• Prometric scheduling problems- If the Prometric system does not accept your scheduling number, please ensure that the test sponsor shown on the Prometric website is the the International Council for Veterinary Assessment, and make sure you are entering your scheduling number, and not your NAVID (NAVLE identification number).

• Record your Prometric confirmation number- Prometric will provide you a confirmation number at the time you schedule your testing appointment. Record this number in the designated area on the bottom of your printed Scheduling and Admission Permit. The ICVA office does not have access to your confirmation number, and you will need it later to confirm your appointment.

You can confirm your testing appointment with Prometric either online or by telephone. You will be required to provide your confirmation number issued to you by Prometric when you originally scheduled your appointment.  Confirm your appointment one week prior to your scheduled test date.

If you are unable to keep your testing appointment on your scheduled date or at your scheduled location, you may change your date or location within that testing window and within your chosen testing region by contacting Prometric online or by telephone. You will be required to provide your Prometric confirmation number when you reschedule.

Requests to reschedule must be made by noon local time at least two business days before your scheduled appointment. When contacting Prometric by telephone to reschedule, you must speak with a representative. Leaving a voicemail message does not satisfy the requirement to provide advance notice.

If you do need to reschedule your appointment but cannot provide at least two business days' notice, contact the ICVA for further information. You will be charged a rescheduling fee and will have to wait for your eligibility to be reset before you can reschedule your appointment. Having your eligibility reset does not guarantee an opening will be available within the testing window.

If you need to change your testing region, a new Scheduling and Admission Permit must be processed for you and you will be assessed additional fees. Seat availability is not guaranteed. Contact our office for further information.

Arrive at the Prometric Testing Center 30 minutes prior to your appointment.

Scheduling and Admission Permit- You must have your Scheduling and Admission Permit with you for admittance into the testing center. You must print your permit (or have it electronically via smartphone) prior to arriving at the Prometric testing center, and have it with you on the day you test, as permits cannot be printed at the testing center, and we will not provide a faxed copy on the day of your examination. The Candidate Identification Number (CIN) on your permit is required to access your examination at the Prometric site.

Identification

• Current ID required- Your government-issued identification must be current on the day you are scheduled to take the NAVLE. If your ID is expired, you will not be admitted to the Prometric testing center. Electronic versions of your ID are not acceptable.

• Photograph and signature required on ID- Your government-issued photo identification must contain your photograph and signature, or you will not be admitted to the Prometric testing center. Commonly used IDs include a driver's license or passport. If your driver's license does not contain a photo, Prometric will not accept it for admission to the NAVLE. Check with your state or provincial government for options regarding a government-issued identification containing a photo and signature.  Electronic versions of your ID are not acceptable.

• ID and permit names must match- The first and last names on your identification must exactly match the first and last names on your Scheduling and Admission Permit. The only acceptable difference is the presence of a middle name, middle initial or suffix on one document and its absence on the other.  If you need to update/correct your name(s) or other information you can do it here.

If you need to change your testing region, a new Scheduling and Admission Permit must be processed for you and you will be assessed additional fees. Seat availability is not guaranteed. Contact our office for further information.

After your application is received, you will receive an email containing your ICVAID. Once you begin the scheduling process, you will receive your Scheduling Number and CIN as part of your Scheduling and Admission Permit. After scheduling your test date online, you will receive your Confirmation Number.

As a reminder, there are several key numbers you will use during the NAVLE process. They include:

• ICVAID (ICVA identification number)- You will receive your ICVAID once your NAVLE application is received. It will allow you to access your online Scheduling and Admission Permit, and, for some candidates, to access your pass/fail information once scores become available.
• Scheduling Number- You will receive your Scheduling Number along with your Scheduling and Admission Permit. It will allow you to schedule your testing appointment with Prometric.
• Candidate Identification Number (CIN)- You will receive the CIN in your Scheduling and Admission Permit. The CIN is required to access your examination on at the Prometric center on the day you test. As Prometric does not have access to CINs, it is vital that you bring your Scheduling and Admission Permit with you on your scheduled test day; otherwise, you will not be admitted to take the test.
• Confirmation Number- You will receive your Confirmation Number when you schedule your testing appointment. This number is required to confirm and/or reschedule your testing appointment. Please record the Confirmation Number in the specified area on the bottom of your permit.

If you are applying for NAVLE approval through the Canadian National Examining Board (NEB), and you have a documented disability for which you will be seeking test accommodations, you must contact the NEB office directly for information regarding their NAVLE accommodation request process by e-mailing neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org.

Submit your request and documentation early. Accommodation requests and supporting documentation must be provided to the ICVA at the time of, submission of your NAVLE application.

If you would like to request any testing accommodations, you must check the box on your initial application form to indicate that you intend to seek accommodations for the applicable testing cycle. If you submit an application without indicating the need for accommodations and receive a permit for standard format testing, you will not be permitted to seek accommodations for the testing cycle in question absent extraordinary circumstances.

Submitting Your Application for Test Accommodations

Submit your request and documentation early.  Accommodation requests and supporting documentation must be provided to the ICVA at the time of, submission of your NAVLE application. It takes time to review the documentation necessary to approve test accommodations, so submitting your application and accommodation materials early is encouraged. This allows time for you to submit any additionally requested documentation necessary for approval of your request, prior to the application deadline date.

Beginning with the November-December 2024 NAVLE candidates who are either requesting a NAVLE accommodation for the first time OR are requesting a different accommodation than they have received on a previous NAVLE must download the accommodation request guidelines and request form below, and submit your request and all required documentation to be received in our office by August 1 for the November-December NAVLE and February 1 for the April NAVLE.

NAVLE Accommodation Request Packet

Personal Item Exceptions

Unauthorized possession of personal items while you are in the secure areas of the testing center is prohibited. However, in certain limited circumstances, exceptions to this policy may be made for medical reasons, provided that permission is granted in advance of the test day. If you have a medical condition that requires you to use medication, an external appliance, or an electronic device in the secure areas of the test center, you must submit a written request and documentation to our office at the time of your ICVA NAVLE application #1. If the medical issue develops after you have submitted your application, you must contact our office immediately.  

Some appliances and devices required for chronic or acute medical situations are already pre-approved for test candidates to use while in the Prometric Testing Centers, including but not limited to service animals, insulin pumps, inhalers, canes, crutches, slings, casts, wheelchairs, TENS units, and eyeglasses.  These pre-approved items may be brought to the testing center without receiving prior approval from our office.  If you are unsure whether you should request an exception or not, please contact our office.  All personal items brought to the examination, either with prior approval from our organization or with pre-approval, are subject to inspection at the test center.  If you bring a non-approved item to your examination, you may not be permitted to test, you may be required to relinquish the item, and/or you may be investigated for irregular behavior.

Candidates are not required to obtain advance permission to consume food or take medication on authorized breaks

Examinees Who Require Additional Break Time

Examinees with medical conditions, such as lactation, may apply for additional break time/standard testing time by submitting the form for Non-Standard Testing Conditions available below and on our website along with a letter from a qualified health care professional documenting the medical necessity of the request.  Please submit the request at the time of your NAVLE application to the ICVA office.  If the medical issue develops after you have submitted your application, please contact the ICVA immediately.  Please note, any Non-Standard Testing Conditions request must be received no later than 14 days before the start of the testing window.

 NAVLE Non-Standard Testing Conditions Form

This section covers the clinical and professional competencies required of veterinarians as they perform their daily responsibilities, such as Communication, Leadership, Lifelong Learning, Practice Management, Professionalism, Health Management, One Health Concepts, and Epidemiology.

NAVLE Competencies

Clinical activities were grouped by species and organ system within species, for most species. Similar species were grouped together for the purpose of analyses.

NAVLE Species Diagnoses

The following information is for NAVLE candidates who are graduates of or students enrolled in veterinary schools not accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). View the list of AVMA-accredited schools.

There are two certification programs for graduates of non-accredited veterinary schools: the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) and the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE).

The Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) program is a certification program for graduates of non-accredited veterinary schools operated by the American Veterinary Medical Association. All licensing boards accept ECFVG certificates for candidates seeking licensure

The ECFVG program consists of four steps. Step 1 is application and credentials verification, which requires applicants to demonstrate that they are a graduate of a recognized (but not AVMA-accredited) school of veterinary medicine. Step 2 requires demonstration of English proficiency. Step 3 is passing the ECFVG's Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination (BCSE), and Step 4 is passing a clinical skills examination.

For more information on the ECFVG program, contact:

Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates
American Veterinary Medical Association
1931 N. Meacham Rd., Suite 100
Schaumburg, IL 60173-4360
Telephone: 847.925.8070, extension 6778 or 6682
Fax: 847.285.5732
E-mail: ecfvg@avma.org
Web site: https://www.avma.org

The Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) is a certification program for graduates of non-accredited veterinary schools operated by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). 44 licensing jurisdictions presently accept PAVE certificates in addition to ECFVG certificates. PAVE, like ECFVG, has four steps

Step 1 is application and credentials review, and Step 2 is demonstration of English proficiency. Step 3 requires candidates to pass a basic science examination. Step 4 requires candidates to demonstrate clinical proficiency.

Beginning with the November–December 2007 NAVLE administration, PAVE candidates must pass the Step 3 examination before they can be approved by a licensing board to take the NAVLE.

For more information on the PAVE program, contact:

American Association of Veterinary State Boards
380 W. 22nd. St., Suite 101
Kansas City, MO 64108
Telephone: 816.931.1504 or 877.698.8482, extension 228
Fax: 816.931.1604
E-mail: pave@aavsb.org
Web site: www.aavsb.org

Canada has its own certification requirements for international veterinary graduates. Contact the National Examining Board for more information.

Individual licensing boards are responsible for determining the eligibility of candidates to sit for the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination. Beginning with the 2007–2008 NAVLE administrations, ECFVG and PAVE candidates must have completed the Step 3 examination requirement of the respective program before they can be approved by a licensing board to take the NAVLE.