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Registration Procedure
An applicant who is required to sit the CPE and who has successfully completed the BCSE (or the old Parts A and B of the NEB Examination) will be able to register for the CPE in the NEB Candidate Portal. To register candidates must complete the following:
- Registration in the NEB Candidate Portal. Please see the following: Full CPE Waiting List
- Payment of the appropriate Examination Fee in the NEB Candidate Portal;
- Submit Surgical Experience Documentation (for candidates who registered with the NEB after January 1st, 2015 only)
To register for the full CPE through the NEB, eligible candidates will need to join the full CPE Waiting List from the NEB Candidate Portal. The full CPE waiting list will continue to be opened until maximum capacity is reached. Once maximum capacity has been reached, it will be closed. Candidates are required to pay 50% of the full CPE exam fees when registering for the full CPE waiting list. The remaining 50% of the CPE fee is due 45 days prior to the scheduled exam. You can access the Schedule of Fees here.
Candidates registering for the Full CPE Waiting List should note that seats are assigned, not offered. Waitlisted candidates will be informed if they have been assigned to a session at least eight (8) weeks before the scheduled exam. If you join the waiting list, you may be assigned a seat as early as eight (8) weeks from the date of registration. Candidates who do not wish to keep the assigned seat must refer to the Refund and Withdrawal Policies.
Surgical Experience Documentation
Candidates who enroll into the NEB program on or after January 1, 2015, must submit validated Surgical Experience Documentation to proceed with their CPE registration.
The validation can be provided by one or more veterinarians licensed to practice veterinary medicine in any international jurisdiction. At a minimum, candidates are expected to document their performance of at least one (1) ovariohysterectomy as a primary surgeon AND have participated in at least five (5) additional surgical procedures (a total of 6) as either a primary or assistant surgeon within the 5-year period prior to the candidate’s CPE application. The 5 additional procedures may be ovariohysterectomies or other surgical procedures. Each documented surgical procedure should involve all elements of an aseptic surgical procedure including gowning & gloving, draping of the patient, and use of sterile instrumentation. Please submit one (1) signed and validated form for each surgical procedure performed. Please write out the surgical procedure performed in full including species. Please note no abbreviations. For example, write out “ovariohysterectomy” – not OVH or OHE – as they can have different meanings in different countries.
Candidates must confirm with the appropriate regulatory authorities in the jurisdiction where they are obtaining surgical experience from to ascertain whether licensure in that jurisdiction is required before performing surgery. The NEB reserves the right to verify the documents received. Candidates are reminded that falsification of documents would be a violation of the Code of Conduct and can resolve in disciplinary actions up to and including dismissal from the program.
Please submit surgical experience documentation via email to [email protected] or through the messaging function on the NEB Candidate portal.
Access the form here: Surgical Experience Documentation.
CPE Manual of Administration (MOA) 2026
The updated CPE MOA on this website is used for exams administered between July 27-December 31, 2026.
It is your responsibility to read the entire Manual of Administration to ensure that you understand what will be expected of you during the 2026 CPE.
Should you have any questions regarding the new CPE Manual of Administration, please contact the NEB office via e-mail at [email protected].
The updated French version of the CPE MOA will be available soon.