NAVLE^® Candidate Agreement

 

OVERVIEW

The NAVLE® Candidate Agreement (the “Agreement”) is a critical component of the Handbook. You must accept and agree to all terms of the Agreement at the time you submit your NAVLE® application and each time you schedule a NAVLE® examination. You must personally reaffirm your understanding and acceptance of its terms before commencing the exam on test day, each time you take the exam. The entire text of the Agreement is reprinted below.

 

NAVLE^® CANDIDATE AGREEMENT

The NAVLE® Candidate Agreement (the “Candidate Agreement”) is a legally binding contract between you and the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination® (“ICVA®”) that sets forth the terms and conditions under which ICVA® will permit you to take North American Veterinary Licensing Examination® (“NAVLE®”), administered to eligible Candidates by the ICVA® through its test delivery partner, Prometric. You must read, acknowledge, and accept the terms of this Candidate Agreement before you are permitted to apply for, schedule, and take the NAVLE®. If you do not agree to the terms of this Candidate Agreement, you will not be permitted to apply for, schedule, or take the NAVLE®. Adherence to the Candidate Agreement is necessary to protect the security of the NAVLE® content, maintain the integrity of the application process, and ensure NAVLE® fairness and validity for all Candidates.

By clicking on the ‘I AGREE’ button at the end of the Candidate Agreement, you are affirming to ICVA® that all of the below representations and statements to ICVA® are true and correct, and you are acknowledging that you have read and understand all of these requirements, rules and policies, and that you understand them and agree to abide by them.

I affirm that I am the person whose name appear on my NAVLE® application and the government-issued photo identification that I will present and/or have presented for admission to the test center on the day of my scheduled NAVLE®. My application to take the NAVLE® is governed by the terms contained in this Candidate Agreement and the International Council for Veterinary Assessment NAVLE® Candidate Handbook (the “Handbook”) and all additional policies of ICVA incorporated by reference therein (collectively, the “Additional Terms”), and I agree to abide by the Additional Terms, which are made part of and incorporated into the Candidate Agreement. I am taking the NAVLE® for the sole purpose of obtaining a professional veterinary license, and for no other purpose. I affirm that I am not taking NAVLE® on behalf of any other person and that I have not engaged any other person to take it on my behalf. I affirm that all information that I provided to ICVA® at the time of my NAVLE® application and at any time thereafter was complete, accurate and true in every respect and that, if any of the information that I previously provided to ICVA® has changed since the time I provided it, I have submitted updated information that is complete, accurate and true, and reflects all such changes. I understand that making false or misleading statements to ICVA® shall be considered a violation of the Candidate Agreement and will subject me to one or more of the consequences provided herein for violations of the Candidate Agreement.

As a condition of taking the NAVLE® in-person at a test center, I am subject to verification of my identity and security screening prior to admission and re-admission to the building and/or room where the ICVA® examination is administered. I further understand and agree that the security screening process for in-person testing at a test center will include requiring me to:

1. produce a valid government-issued personal photo-identification and the Scheduling and Admissions Permit, both of which comply with ICVA®’s identification policies set forth in the Handbook;
2. remove any backpack, bag, jacket, non-corrective eyewear, jewelry, sunglasses, coat, hooded sweatshirt, scarf, headwear or hat that I may be wearing or holding (except for a genuine religious purpose) and secure them in a locker,
3. turn in and/or secure all wristwatches, cell phones and all other personal electronic devices in a locker,
4. submit corrective eyewear for inspection by a test administrator,
5. demonstrate that no prohibited items are concealed in any part of your clothing or hair; and
6. comply at all times with the security screening requests and instructions of the test center administrator and staff.

I will not be permitted to take or resume taking the examination if I refuse to submit to security screening as described above prior to entering the room where the NAVLE® is administered, at the sole discretion of test administrators and test center staff.

ICVA®, its authorized and trusted test administration vendor, and test center partners acting on behalf of ICVA® will take and use still digital photographs of me, video and audio recordings of me, and collect and use other personally identifiable information from me and about me for the purpose of monitoring, administering, and/or supporting ICVA® examination administrations, all of which will be retained and processed as part of my NAVLE® administration records.

I understand and agree that the following conduct, whether attempted or completed, is strictly prohibited:

• Copying, capturing, recording, collecting, reconstructing, memorizing, discussing, soliciting, transmitting, broadcasting, streaming or distributing NAVLE® examination content;
• Giving or receiving unauthorized assistance on the NAVLE®;
• Viewing the content of another examinee’s computer display or dry erase board or examination papers during the NAVLE® administration;
• Possessing or accessing prohibited items while inside a room where the NAVLE® is being administered;
• Taking the NAVLE® on behalf of another person;
• Having another person take the NAVLE® on my behalf;
• Accessing a large language model or generative artificial intelligence platform (for example, but not limited to, “ChatGPT”) by any means during the NAVLE® administration;
• Possessing, accessing or using a cellular phone or any device that connects to a cellular network, satellite network or the Internet while inside a room where the NAVLE® is being administered or in any location during unscheduled examination breaks, other than the computer on which I am taking the examination;
• Possessing, accessing or using any electronic device, camera, recording device, or photographic equipment of any kind while inside a room where the NAVLE® is being administered;
• Possessing, accessing or using any books, notes, papers, note-taking materials, study materials or test-taking aids of any kind while inside a room where the NAVLE® is being administered or in any location during unscheduled examination breaks;
• Creating handwritten or electronic notes during an exam administration in any medium, format or manner that can be removed or transmitted from the test center, including during breaks;
• Failing or refusing to submit to security screening or the inspection of personal items upon request by a test administrator or test center staff at any time prior to or during the NAVLE® administration;
• Failing or refusing to strictly comply with the instructions and requests of a test administrator or test center staff at any time prior to or during the NAVLE® administration;
• Engaging in disruptive, threatening, abusive, disrespectful, threatening or violent behavior in or near any building where the NAVLE® is being administered; and
• Talking or communicating with anyone other than a test administrator or test center staff while inside a room where the NAVLE® is being administered.

 

Engaging in any of the above-described prohibited conduct shall be considered both a violation of the Candidate Agreement and an “exam security violation” under the Ethical Behavior Investigation and Appeal Policy. I will follow the instructions and requests of all test administrators and test center staff, and I understand that my failure or refusal to follow instructions or comply with requests from a test administrator or test center staff shall also be considered a violation of the Candidate Agreement and an exam security violation.

I affirm that I am not taking the NAVLE® in my capacity as a test preparation agent or tutor, or for the purpose of obtaining such employment. I affirm that I will not be employed as a test preparation agent or tutor for the NAVLE® for a period of three (3) years following the completion of any NAVLE® administration.

I am aware that the NAVLE® is a confidential exam, and that its contents are disclosed to me at the time of test administration in a limited context to permit me to test in pursuit of the veterinary license for which I have applied, and for no other purpose. I understand that the NAVLE® and all NAVLE® questions, reading passages, answer choices, graphic images and all related examination content contained within the NAVLE® (the “NAVLE® Examination Content”) are protected by United States and international copyright laws and that NAVLE® Examination Content is a trade secret under United States and international law. I agree that I will not discuss or disclose NAVLE® Examination Content orally, in writing, on the Internet, or through any other medium existing today or invented in the future. I agree that I will not copy, reproduce, adapt, disclose, or transmit NAVLE® Examination Content, in whole or in part, or assist or solicit anyone else in doing the same. I further agree that I will not reconstruct NAVLE® Examination Content from memory, by dictation, or by any other means, for any purpose. I understand that prohibited acts under these terms include, but are not limited to: describing questions, answer choices, hypothetical scenarios, reading passages, images or graphics from any NAVLE® examination; identifying terms or concepts contained in exam questions or responses; sharing answers to questions; entering NAVLE® Examination Content into a large language model or generative artificial intelligence platform; referring others to information I saw on the exam; reconstructing a list of topics on the test; and soliciting or discussing exam questions, answer choices, reading passages, images, graphics, or topics in person, through telephonic or electronic communication, or on Internet ”chat” rooms, social media, private or public groups, message boards, forums, or through any other means of communication.

I am not permitted to possess, solicit, read, study from, study or otherwise use confidential information about the NAVLE® during my own exam preparation. I affirm that I have not engaged in such conduct prior to taking the NAVLE® and that I will not engage in such conduct during or after the exam. I also agree not to ask any other individual to disclose NAVLE® Examination Content to me or to seek out actual live, confidential NAVLE® Examination Content from any other source. I agree that if I receive or have access to information or material in any form and from any source, including but not limited to email, instant messages, text messages, website content, social media posts, electronic bulletin boards, Internet-based groups, digital or electronic files and/or paper documents, that I reasonably believe contains confidential NAVLE® Examination Content, or has been represented to contain NAVLE® Examination Content, I will immediately report its existence to ICVA®. I agree that I will fully cooperate with any investigation by ICVA® related to my receipt or access to information believed or represented to contain NAVLE® Examination Content.

ICVA® reserves the right to use statistical and psychometric analyses to evaluate the validity of NAVLE® examination response data and scores. ICVA® utilizes reliable scientific methods to determine whether scores should be withheld, invalidated, canceled or investigated further to determine whether a candidate violated the terms of the Candidate Agreement. I further understand and agree that, if ICVA® has a reasonable basis to question the validity of any ICVA® score, whether identified through the use of statistical analysis, psychometric analysis or any other reliable method or source of information, ICVA® reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to withhold, cancel and invalidate examination scores, without any requirement to demonstrate that I or any other Candidate violated the terms of the Candidate Agreement or engaged in an exam security violation. I agree that if ICVA® invalidates my examination score, I have no right to appeal ICVA®’s decision under this Agreement, the NAVLE® Exam Security Investigation and Appeal Policy, or any other policy of ICVA®, I will not be entitled to a refund for the NAVLE®, and I will be required to pay the established fee to take the NAVLE® again, if I am permitted by ICVA® to take the examination again.

ICVA® reserves the right to, but is not obligated to, investigate any alleged violation of this Candidate Agreement, any exam security violation(s) or any alleged activity or circumstance that may compromise the validity, integrity, or security of any portion of the NAVLE®, or the results thereof. Upon receiving notice from ICVA® that it is conducting an investigation related to the NAVLE®, I understand and agree that I am required to:

• fully cooperate with the investigation;
• disclose to ICVA® all knowledge that could potentially relate to the investigation;
• produce all documents, data, and materials reasonably requested by ICVA®;
• upon request, submit to an in-person or remote interview, in ICVA®’s sole discretion, conducted by or on behalf of ICVA®; and
• truthfully and completely answer all questions asked by ICVA®.

 

I also understand and agree that if I make false or misleading statements to ICVA® at any time, violate the terms of this Candidate Agreement, refuse to comply with any directions given to me by a test administrator or test center staff, engage in any activity that may compromise the validity, integrity, or security of any ICVA® examination, or fail to fully cooperate in any investigation related to the NAVLE®, that ICVA® may, in its sole discretion, directly or through its authorized representatives:

• Interrupt, suspend and/or terminate the administration of my NAVLE® examination;
• Confiscate any item from me during the NAVLE® administration that a test administrator reasonably believes constitutes or contains evidence of a potential violation of this Candidate Agreement, including, but not limited to, notes, electronic devices and other prohibited items;
• Withhold, cancel or invalidate my examination scores, before or after the scores are reported, without a refund;
• Prohibit or disqualify me from taking the NAVLE® for a fixed period of time or indefinitely;
• Impose special conditions of taking the NAVLE® in the future; and
• Pursue a civil lawsuit against me based upon my conduct in violation of the Candidate Agreement and/or refer the matter for criminal prosecution by state and/or federal authorities or any government agency with jurisdiction.

 

I acknowledge that ICVA® may enforce the terms of this Agreement without limitation. If ICVA® determines in its sole discretion that a Candidate has violated any part of this Agreement and initiates legal action against the Candidate under the terms of this Agreement, the Candidate shall not have the right to appeal any such action by ICVA®.

By clicking the button on the screen that reads “I AGREE” below, I am representing to ICVA® that all of the prior information, statements and affirmations that I have provided to ICVA® are true and correct, including but not limited to all of the affirmations contained in this Candidate Agreement. I am further confirming my agreement to all of the terms and conditions set forth in this Candidate Agreement, including, without limitation, the consequences for making false or misleading statements to ICVA®, and for violating any term of this Candidate Agreement.

If there is any part of this Candidate Agreement that you do not understand or agree with, you are not permitted to register for or take the NAVLE®.

Any exam security violation or violation of the Candidate Agreement may, in the sole discretion of the ICVA, be reported to the applicable board or boards of veterinary medicine, which could jeopardize your potential for licensure. In addition, if the NAVLE Program has reason to believe that a candidate may have committed an exam security violation or violated the Candidate Agreement, it may notify the applicable board or boards of veterinary medicine, even if the investigation is ongoing and no findings have been made.