What is the NAVLE? A Comprehensive Guide for Vet Students and International Graduates

So, you’re gearing up for the NAVLE – the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) – and want to know all about it. Whether you’re a veterinary student nearing graduation or an international vet looking to practice in North America, understanding the NAVLE is crucial. This conversational guide breaks down everything you need to know: what the NAVLE is, why it’s required, who is eligible, how the exam works, the costs, how to prepare, and what happens after you pass. Let’s dive in!

What Does NAVLE Stand For and Why Is It Required?

NAVLE stands for North American Veterinary Licensing Examination. As the name suggests, it’s the standardized exam that all aspiring veterinarians must pass to become licensed in the United States and Canada. The NAVLE has been administered by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) since 2000. In fact, passing the NAVLE is a requirement for licensure to practice veterinary medicine in all U.S. states, U.S. territories, and Canadian provinces. In other words, you generally cannot legally practice as a veterinarian in North America without passing this exam.

Why do we need a licensing exam? The NAVLE ensures that all new veterinarians meet a minimum standard of knowledge and competency before they start practicing. Veterinary medicine is high-stakes – we’re responsible for animal lives (and indirectly human health, in areas like food safety and zoonoses). Licensing exams like the NAVLE provide a quality control checkpoint. Veterinary students usually take the NAVLE in the final year of vet school, and international veterinary graduates take it as part of their North American licensing process. In sum, NAVLE = one big exam to prove you’re ready to be a vet.

NAVLE Eligibility Requirements (Who Can Take the NAVLE?)

Not just anyone can sign up for the NAVLE. NAVLE eligibility is restricted to bona fide candidates for veterinary licensureicva.net icva.net. In practical terms, you must meet one of the following criteria to be allowed to take the NAVLE:

Senior students or graduates of AVMA-accredited veterinary schools. If you are enrolled in (or have graduated from) a veterinary school accredited by the AVMA Council on Education – for example, any U.S. vet school or certain international schools accredited by the AVMA – you are eligible to take the NAVLEicva.net. (You can find a list of AVMA-accredited schools on the AVMA website.) If you’re still a student, most jurisdictions require that you be within ~10 months of your expected graduation date by the exam windowicva.net. Final-year students are even allowed to take the NAVLE up to two times before graduating (e.g. once in fall and again in spring, if needed)icva.net.
Graduates of non-accredited foreign veterinary programs, with additional certification. If you went to a vet school not accredited by the AVMA (which includes most schools outside the U.S./Canada), you must pursue an educational equivalency certification before you can sit the NAVLE. This means enrolling in either the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) certification program (run by the AVMA) or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) (run by the AAVSB)icva.net. International candidates need to complete most of their certification steps before taking the NAVLE – specifically, ECFVG/PAVE candidates must have passed the required basic science knowledge exam (often called Step 3 or the BCSE/QSE exam) in their program prior to the NAVLE application deadlineicva.net icva.net. (A few states even require foreign grads to finish all 4 steps of ECFVG and obtain the full certificate before NAVLE approval, notably California, New Mexico, and Delawareicva.net.) In short, international veterinarians must be well into the ECFVG or PAVE program to be NAVLE-eligible.

Important: Each licensing board can set extra rules on eligibility. Most follow the standard criteria above, but some states or provinces have additional NAVLE requirementsicva.net. For example, a state might require a certain documentation or have an earlier deadline. Always double-check the requirements of the state or jurisdiction through which you plan to take the exam. If you are unsure, the ICVA can approve you under a temporary “no state selected” status (the “No Board” option) – you’ll still take the NAVLE, and later you can transfer your score to a state board when you decide where to get licensedicva.net.

NAVLE Exam Format and Content

Let’s talk about what the NAVLE exam actually looks like. The NAVLE is a computer-based test (CBT) delivered at professional testing centers (Prometric centers) throughout North America (and at select international sites)icva.net. Here are the key facts about the exam format:

Length and Structure: The NAVLE consists of 360 multiple-choice questions administered in a single dayicva.net. These questions are divided into 6 blocks of 60 questions each, with each block timed at 65 minutesicva.net. You’ll have a total of 6.5 hours of testing time for the questions, plus a short orientation/tutorial at the start and about 45 minutes of break time to use between blocksicva.net. It’s a marathon: plan for roughly 7.5 hours at the test center on exam day! Each question is standalone multiple-choice (pick the one best answer). Some questions (approximately 15–20%) include images like radiographs, clinical photos, or lab results that you must interpreticva.net.
Content Covered: The NAVLE is comprehensive – it covers all domains of veterinary medicine and all the species you might encounter in practice. Expect questions spanning small animal (companion animal) medicine, large animal (farm animal and equine) medicine, exotics, public health, and more. According to the official NAVLE blueprint, about 50% of the exam focuses on companion animals alone (dogs ~25% and cats ~24% of questions)icva.net. Food animal and equine topics also take up a significant chunk (e.g. equine ~15%, bovine ~13%, plus swine ~5%)icva.net. The remainder includes small mammals, birds, poultry, and even wildlife/aquatic species in smaller proportionsicva.net. In other words, you’ll see a bit of everything, but small animal clinicians can breathe easy knowing half the test is dog/cat, whereas those less familiar with farm animals should brush up on bovine/equine basics.
Competency Domains: Another way the exam content is organized is by task domains or competencies. The NAVLE isn’t just random trivia; questions are designed to reflect real veterinary tasks. Major domains include Clinical Practice (diagnosis & treatment) – which is about 70% of the exam – as well as Preventive Medicine & Public Health, Communication, and Professionalism/Practice Managementicva.net icva.net. Essentially, most questions will present clinical scenarios where you have to diagnose, make a prognosis, or decide on a treatment plan for a patient (covering the breadth of species as described). There may also be a few questions on topics like herd health, animal welfare, safety, jurisprudence, or ethical practice, but these are a smaller portion of the exam.
Scoring: The NAVLE is scored on a scaled score from 200 to 800, and 425 is the magic passing scoremometrix.com. Your raw score (the number of questions you get right) is converted to this scaled score. There is no fixed “percentage” required to pass, since each version of the exam may vary in difficulty and the scoring is equated. Essentially, if you score 425 or above, you pass; 424 or below, you fail. One important thing to know is that not all 360 questions count towards your score – about 60 of those questions are unscored pre-test items being vetted for future usemometrix.com. These unscored questions are mixed in and indistinguishable from the rest, so answer all questions as if they count. You won’t know your score immediately at the testing center; score reports are typically released a few weeks after the testing window closes.

NAVLE Application Process and Scheduling

How do you apply for the NAVLE? The process might seem a bit confusing at first because it involves both the ICVA and your target licensing board (state, provincial, or territorial veterinary board). Here’s a step-by-step breakdown:

Choose a Licensing Board (State/Province) for NAVLE approval. When you apply for the NAVLE, you have to apply through a specific licensing jurisdiction – usually the state or province where you plan to get your veterinary license. Your NAVLE score will later be sent to that boardvet.purdue.edu. If you’re not sure where you’ll practice, don’t worry – you can use the “No Board” option in the application (which means ICVA will approve you, and you can designate a board later by transferring your score)icva.net. Tip: If you might work in the US, it’s often easiest to apply through the state of your vet school or a state with straightforward requirements. Canadian candidates must apply through the Canadian National Examining Board (NEB) for NAVLE approval in Canadaicva.net (the NEB handles NAVLE registration for all Canadian provinces).
Submit your NAVLE application to the ICVA (and possibly a state board application). Most candidates will complete an online NAVLE application on the ICVA website during the designated application windowicva.net. The ICVA application asks for your eligibility category (school info or ECFVG/PAVE status), your chosen state or “No Board”, and payment of fees. Important: Some states also require a separate state application or fee in addition to the ICVA applicationvet.purdue.edu vet.purdue.edu. For example, if you’re applying through a state that does not use ICVA for the state portion, you must contact that state’s veterinary board and complete their NAVLE application requirements as wellicva.net. The ICVA provides a list of which boards handle their own NAVLE approval vs. those that have ICVA process it – always double-check so you don’t miss a step.
Meet the deadlines. NAVLE applications are only accepted at specific times of year, well before each testing window. The NAVLE is offered three times a year in the new cycle: a fall window, a spring window, and a summer window. For example, for the 2025–2026 cycle the testing windows are Oct 15–Nov 15, 2025; Mar 1–Mar 26, 2026; and July 13–Aug 8, 2026icva.net icva.net. The application deadlines for these windows are typically several months earlier (e.g. mid-July for the fall window, early January for the March window, early May for the summer window)icva.net. No late applications are accepted, so plan ahead!lsbvm.org
Approval and Scheduling: After you submit your application (and your school or ECFVG/PAVE program has verified your enrollment status to the ICVA), you will receive an approval email and a Scheduling Permit if everything is in order. The scheduling permit allows you to go onto the Prometric website to schedule your exam appointment on an available date within the testing window you applied for. Testing seats are first-come, first-served, so schedule as soon as you get your permit, especially if you have limited date/location flexibility. You can choose any Prometric testing center (the exam is offered at many sites across the US, Canada, and select international cities). If you need test accommodations for a disability, there is a process to apply for accommodations at the time of application (with documentation), and approved accommodations will be noted on your permiticva.net icva.net.
Test Day: You’ll take the NAVLE on the date and location you scheduled. Be sure to follow the instructions on your permit (bring valid ID, etc.). After taking the exam, you’ll typically wait about 3-4 weeks (sometimes up to 4-6 weeks) for scoring. The ICVA releases scores after the entire window closes and does some statistical validation. You’ll be notified by email when your score report is available to view online.

A note on re-taking: If you don’t pass, you can reapply for the next NAVLE window. However, effective November 2024, there is a limit of 5 total attempts for the NAVLE per candidateavma.org lsbvm.org. This includes any attempts you made in the past, even incomplete attempts. If someone fails the NAVLE five times, a sixth attempt will require an appeal to the ICVA Board for special permissionlsbvm.org. This new rule is intended to ensure candidates take time to address deficiencies and to maintain exam integrity. Fortunately, the majority of candidates pass within a few attempts (more on pass rates below), but do take each attempt seriously.

NAVLE Costs and Fees

Becoming a veterinarian isn’t cheap, and neither is the NAVLE. There are several fees to budget for:

NAVLE Examination Fee: This is the base fee paid to ICVA for the exam itself. As of the 2025–2026 cycle, the NAVLE exam fee is $800 USDicva.net lsbvm.org. (For reference, it was $760 in the prior year, so fees can increase slightly over time.)
State/Provincial Application Fee: In addition to the ICVA fee, many licensing boards charge their own fee to process your NAVLE application or licensure approval. Most U.S. state boards charge around $50–$60 for the NAVLE application approval. For example, boards that use ICVA’s system have a standard $55 state NAVLE fee at the time of applicationicva.net lsbvm.org. Some states or provinces may be higher. If you apply through the Canadian NEB, you’ll pay the NEB’s fee instead (which was around $345 CAD, though check current NEB info). Always check your board’s website for their fee.
International Testing Fee: If you choose to take the NAVLE at an international Prometric center outside the U.S. or Canada (for instance, in Europe, Asia, etc.), there is an additional international surcharge. This fee is currently $380 USD extra for an overseas test centericva.net lsbvm.org. (So an international candidate sitting in, say, London would pay a total of $800 + $380 = $1180 to ICVA.) Many foreign candidates opt to fly to North America to avoid this fee, but it’s a personal choice weighing travel costs vs. the convenience of a local center.
Other Costs: While not fees paid to ICVA, don’t forget to factor in related expenses: travel or lodging if your closest Prometric center is far from home, any study materials or courses you purchase (see next section), and the costs of the ECFVG or PAVE programs for international folks (ECFVG itself has its own fees for each step, etc., separate from NAVLE). Also, if you need to reschedule or cancel your Prometric appointment within a certain window, there may be rescheduling fees according to Prometric’s policies.

Pro Tip: If you end up not taking the exam in your approved window (e.g., you cancel or no-show), you do not get a refund of the NAVLE fee. You would have to pay again to reapply for a future windowlsbvm.org lsbvm.org. So make sure you’re ready and available to take the exam once you sign up!

Study Resources and Preparation Tips

Studying for the NAVLE can feel daunting because of the vast scope of material. The good news is that many resources and strategies can help you prepare effectively. Here are some NAVLE preparation tips and popular study resources:

Review Your Veterinary School Notes: A solid foundation is your vet school coursework. Many students start by reviewing notes, lectures, and textbooks from core clinical courses (especially in areas like pathology, pharmacology, medicine, surgery, and therio). Identify your weak spots early (perhaps you struggled with poultry diseases or equine lameness?) and plan to give those extra attention.
Use Question Banks and Online Prep Programs: One of the most popular ways to study is by using NAVLE-specific question banks. Two of the leading commercial prep programs are VetPrep and Zuku Review. These are subscription-based online platforms offering thousands of practice questions, detailed explanations, and even practice exams. VetPrep and Zuku are highly rated by students and mirror the NAVLE format well (many say VetPrep’s questions feel very similar to the real exam, while Zuku is known for having lots of images and covering obscure species). Another up-and-coming resource is Crack NAVLE, which provides premium study notes and daily practice questions. Using a question bank helps you test your knowledge and get familiar with NAVLE-style questions. Aim to work through as many practice questions as you can – practice makes perfect! Also, read the explanations for every question (even the ones you got right) to reinforce concepts.
Official Practice Exams: The ICVA offers official NAVLE Self-Assessments (practice exams) that you can purchase. These are 200-question web-based tests that simulate the real exam and give you a score report with a projected NAVLE score rangeicva.net icva.net. While they aren’t free (around $50-$65 each), they are made by the same people who make the NAVLE, so they can be a very accurate gauge of your readiness. Taking an official practice exam a month or so before your test date can help identify any areas needing last-minute review and build your confidence.
Study Guides and Review Books: Some students use comprehensive review books such as The Merck Veterinary Manual, Plumb’s Veterinary Drug Handbook (for pharmacology review), or vet school outline notes. There are also crowdsourced study guides (some vet student associations or r/navle on Reddit share notes). Make sure whatever reference you use is up to date. Focus on high-yield topics: common diseases, classic presentations, and core knowledge in each species. NAVLE is not the time to dive deeply into niche research; breadth of knowledge is more important than depth in a few areas.
Plan Your Study Schedule: Procrastination is not your friend. Most students begin studying several months in advance. If you’re in clinics, plan a realistic schedule – for example, you might do practice questions for an hour or two every evening, and longer sessions on weekends. It helps to break up study by subject (e.g., dedicate each week to a couple of disciplines or species). Some like to start with their weakest subject to get it out of the way; others alternate to keep things fresh. There’s no one right method, as long as you cover everything by exam day.
Study Groups and Discussion: Sometimes discussing cases or quizzing each other in a study group can reinforce learning. Teaching a topic to a friend is a great way to solidify your understanding. Just make sure group study stays productive.
Take Care of Yourself: Lastly, remember to look after your wellbeing during NAVLE prep. It’s a stressful time, but good sleep, nutrition, and taking breaks will actually improve your retention of material. Exercise, hobbies, and time with supportive friends can prevent burnout. Many students find the NAVLE less intense than vet school finals or boards for other professions, so with steady prep and confidence, you’ll get through it!

NAVLE Pass Rates and What Happens After Passing

The big question on everyone’s mind: How hard is the NAVLE? The exam is certainly challenging, but the pass rates are generally reassuring. Historically, students from AVMA-accredited vet schools have had a first-time NAVLE pass rate in the 90+% rangeavma.org. In recent years there has been a slight dip – for instance, the pass rate for senior students was about 95% in 2019–2020, around 90% in 2021–2022, and about 86% for 2022–2023avma.org. Various factors (including an increasing number of test-takers and maybe pandemic disruptions) have been discussed, but the key takeaway is that the vast majority of candidates do pass. If you are an international graduate going through ECFVG/PAVE, the pass rates are a bit lower on average than for U.S. senior students – so you might need extra preparation – but many international vets also succeed in a couple attempts. Ultimately, if you prepare well, you have a good chance of passing this exam on the first try.

What happens after you pass? First, celebrate 🎉 – it’s a huge milestone! When scores are released, you’ll receive an official score report. If you got the passing score (425 or above), you won’t have to worry about the NAVLE again (a passing NAVLE score is valid indefinitely for licensure). Your score is automatically sent to the licensing board you selected on your application (or to AAVSB if you went with the “No Board” option, from which you can have it forwarded to a board via the AAVSB VAULT service)lsbvm.org lsbvm.org.

To actually get your veterinary license, you will need to complete any remaining steps required by your state or province. This typically includes:

Graduating from vet school (if you took the NAVLE as a student, your license will be issued only after your diploma is confirmed).
Completing ECFVG/PAVE if you’re an international candidate (passing NAVLE is often one of the final steps, but you may need to finish clinical skill exams or other requirements to obtain the certification).
State jurisprudence exams or other requirements: Many states have a short open-book test on state veterinary laws/regulations, or require a background check, application forms, licensing fees, etc. You’ll submit a licensure application to the board, pay the state license fee, and fulfill these items.

After all requirements are met, the board will issue your license to practice veterinary medicine – congratulations, you’re now a licensed veterinarian! 🥳

If you didn’t pass the NAVLE, take heart: you’re far from the first. Analyze your score report to see which content areas you struggled with. You’ll have to reapply for the NAVLE in the next window (or whichever future window you choose) and pay the fees again, but you do not have to redo ECFVG or PAVE steps – those remain valid. Many people pass on their second try. Just be mindful of the 5-attempt limit now in placelsbvm.org and seek help or adjust your study strategy if needed before tackling it again.

In summary, the NAVLE is a crucial hurdle on the path to becoming a veterinarian in North America. It may seem intimidating, but with understanding of the process and thorough preparation, you can conquer it. Good luck on your NAVLE journey and your veterinary career beyond!

References

International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) – NAVLE General Information. icva.net icva.net
ICVA – NAVLE Eligibility Criteria (AVMA COE schools, ECFVG/PAVE)icva.net icva.net
ICVA – NAVLE Candidate Bulletin 2025–2026 (exam format, structure, and content blueprint)icva.net icva.net
American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) – News Article on NAVLE Pass Rates (NAVLE historical pass rate data)avma.org avma.org
Louisiana Board of Veterinary Medicine – NAVLE Exam Dates & Fees (2025–2026)lsbvm.org lsbvm.org
ICVA – NAVLE Application and Fees Page (NAVLE $800 fee, $380 int’l fee, $55 state fee)icva.net icva.net
ICVA – FAQs for NAVLE (ECFVG/PAVE Step 3 requirement, state-specific notes)icva.net icva.net
ICVA – NAVLE “No Board” Option Description (apply without choosing a board)icva.net
Zuku Review – NAVLE Prep Resource (online question bank for NAVLE preparation)forums.studentdoctor.net
Crack NAVLE – NAVLE Study Notes & Questions Resourcecracknavle.com