Before You Begin
NOTE: If you intend to apply for licensure in Canada, please submit your application to the Canadian National Examining Board (NEB) rather than through this process. This application is for individuals who intend to apply only through a U.S. licensing board or directly through the ICVA.
Steps
The NAVLE is broken into three (3) primary steps:
- Determine your eligibility
- Complete the online application
- Receive approval to take the NAVLE
- Look for your Scheduling and Admissions Permit
- Schedule your NAVLE appointment at a Prometric Testing Center
- Review for the test
Determine Your Eligibility
NOTE: Carefully review the details below to confirm your eligibility and avoid violating the Ethical Behavior Investigation and Appeal Policy.
The NAVLE is administered only to valid candidates for licensure to practice veterinary medicine. This includes candidates who meet one (1) of the two (2) criteria below:
1. Accredited College of Veterinary Medicine: graduated from, or enrolled in, a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (AVMA COE).
Important
- Confirm your school is AVMA COE-accredited.
- The school must be AVMA COE-accredited when you graduate.
- In Canada and most U.S. states, applicants must graduate within ten (10) months from the last date of the applicable testing window.
- If your eligibility changes after approval, notify the approving organization immediately or your NAVLE scores may be canceled.
2. Non-Accredited Programs or Foreign Graduates: enrolled in, or holding a certificate from, the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE).
Important:
- If you are enrolled in ECFVG, you must have completed the BCSE examination requirement before you can be approved by a licensing board to take the NAVLE.
- If you are enrolled in PAVE, you must have completed the QSE examination requirement before you can be approved by a licensing board to take the NAVLE.
NOTE: NAVLE eligibility requirements may differ across state/territorial licensing agencies. You must the requirements of your chosen licensing agency to be approved to take the NAVLE. Check your licensing board requirements before applying.
Complete the Online Application
Application Processes - Before filling out the application, you should identify which application process applies to you:
If you plan to obtain a license to practice veterinary medicine in Canada, follow the NAVLE application process with the Canadian National Examining Board (NEB).
Review your licensing agency requirements to determine whether your board authorizes the ICVA to manage their NAVLE approval process. View Requirements
If you’re unsure where you’ll seek licensure, select the ‘ICVA’ option in the online application. You’ll later use AAVSB to send your score to the necessary board(s)/jurisdiction(s).
Verify Your Information
- Contact Details: before submitting your application, review your name, email address, and telephone number for accuracy. Updating these after submission requires the NAVLE Information Change Request Form and applicable fees.
- Testing Region Changes: contact the ICVA immediately if you need to change your testing region. Changes must be made at least 10 business days before the testing window starts, and carry a $100 Testing Region Change Fee — plus the International Testing Fee if you’re moving from the US/Canada testing region to any other testing region — payable via the Fee Payment Page.
Application Reminders
When you're getting ready to submit your NAVLE application, keep these important points in mind:
The NAVLE is available during three (3) annual testing windows, each with specific testing dates.
The online NAVLE application can be accessed through the ICVA website during each application period.
Requests for accommodations must be submitted prior to or during the applicable application period — see Submit an Accommodations Request.
Application and payment(s) are submitted electronically and can be satisfied by Visa or Mastercard.
If you’ve previously taken the NAVLE, review the Retake Policy on the NAVLE Overview page before getting started.
Receive Approval To Take The NAVLE
What happens after you apply for the NAVLE?
Your approval process depends on the NAVLE approval process associated with your licensing board:
Managed by the Canadian National Examining Board (NEB). If you plan to practice in Canada, follow the process outlined by the NEB.
Applies to boards authorizing the ICVA to manage their NAVLE approvals, and to candidates choosing the ‘ICVA’ option. Your institution submits eligibility documentation to ICVA, and ICVA pairs and approves your application when possible.
Applies when your board does not use the ICVA for their NAVLE approvals. Contact your board directly, complete its requirements, and it will submit your eligibility approval to the ICVA.
Check on your NAVLE status using the NAVLE Candidate Dashboard, using the ICVAID and Access Code from your welcome email (subject line “Your NAVLE Application Has Been Received”). The dashboard shows:
- Application and approval status.
- Issues that must be resolved before the deadline for timely approval.
- Issuance date of your NAVLE Scheduling and Admission Permit.
- Availability of your NAVLE score report on the MyNBME portal.
- Information on previous attempts, for candidates who have tested before.
Look for Your Scheduling and Admissions Permit
What is a Scheduling and Admissions Permit? It confirms you can make an appointment with the NAVLE test delivery vendor, Prometric. When issued, it’s emailed to you with instructions to complete your required MyNBME® account registration. Permits are confidential and intended exclusively for the named candidate.
NOTE: Permit distribution may take at least four weeks after approval to take the test (including accommodation approval, if applicable). Permits are issued as they become available after your application is approved, submitted to the test vendor, and processed by the NBME. Application deadlines do not determine permit issuance or Prometric scheduling, and there is no guaranteed date for receiving your permit.
Next Steps After Receiving Your Permit
- Confirm your name on the permit matches the government-issued ID you plan to use on test day — notify the ICVA immediately if it needs updating (changes after submission carry a fee).
- Note your eligibility period to complete the examination.
- Follow the instructions to complete your MyNBME Examinee Portal registration.