North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE®)

Overview

This bulletin contains procedural and policy information for the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), which you should read in full. Please note that while every attempt has been made to provide accurate and definite information, the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) and the NEB may need to change or revise policies and procedures that affect the NAVLE program. Changes will be published in this NEB Candidate information guide and will also be posted on the ICVA website (www.icva.net) as soon as they are determined. You should check this web site for the most current information about ICVA policies and procedures.

All questions associated with the NAVLE examination are protected by copyright and are the property of the ICVA, working with the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME). Reproduction of distribution of NAVLE questions, by any means, without the express written consent of the ICVA, is strictly prohibited. The ICVA maintains the right to fully exercise its legal rights and remedies, including the pursuit of legal action, without prior notice.

General NAVLE Information

The NAVLE is a requirement for licensure to practice veterinary medicine in all licensing jurisdictions in the US and Canada and is developed by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA). The ICVA supports veterinary licensing authorities through its leadership in the development, delivery, and continual improvement of high-quality assessments across the continuum of veterinarians’ preparation for practice.

Primary Objectives of the NAVLE

The primary objectives of the NAVLE are as follows:

• To provide a comprehensive objective examination to state, provincial or territorial boards charged with the licensing of veterinarians.
• To protect the public by ensuring that veterinarians demonstrate a specified level of knowledge and skills before entering veterinary practice.
• To assess the professional competency of veterinarians in terms of their qualifications to enter private clinical practice.
• To provide a common standard in the evaluation of candidates that will be comparable from jurisdiction to jurisdiction.
• To contribute to the veterinary profession through development of improved definitions of the relationship between knowledge and professional practice.
• To facilitate interstate/inter-provincial licensing reciprocity for practicing veterinarians.

IMPORTANT!

NAVLE Registration Process in Canada

If you are applying to take the NAVLE in order to obtain a license to practice veterinary medicine in Canada, you must contact the National Examining Board (NEB) directly and follow its NAVLE registration procedures and requirements. NAVLE registration and fee payment must be made directly to the NEB (not to the ICVA) by their application deadline date. Provincial licensing board contact information can be found here.

The NEB will forward a list of approved candidates to the ICVA office.

Application Process

The NAVLE is administered only to bona fide candidates for licensure to practice veterinary medicine. The NAVLE eligibility criteria remain the same as when the NAVLE was administered twice annually.

In Canada and most US states, if you have not graduated from veterinary school at the time of application, you must have an expected graduation date no later than ten (10) months from the last date of the applicable testing window. If your eligibility status changes after you are approved to take the examination, you must notify the NEB. Failure to do so may result in the cancellation of your NAVLE score results.

Candidates may take the NAVLE up to two (2) times prior to their graduation.

If you are a candidate who is repeating the NAVLE, please refer to the Assessment Procedures and Repeat of Failed Parts.

Eligibility Requirements

Existing NEB candidates, students of Canadian Veterinary Colleges, and any potential applicants applying for licensure in Canada must register for the NAVLE through the NEB. Candidates from international accredited schools and international non-accredited schools must be approved through the NEB before they can register for the NAVLE. The NAVLE registration is available on the NEB Candidate Portal during the NAVLE registration windows. Please see Latest News & Updates about when the registration window will open for the next NAVLE session. The deadline for submitting the NAVLE registration is in the section of this page called NAVLE Examination Dates and Registration Deadlines.

Please contact the NEB at neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org for any questions or clarification.

Application procedures for all eligible candidates are available on the NEB Candidate Portal.

Graduates and Final Year Students of Canadian Veterinary Colleges

• An applicant who is a graduate or final year student of a Canadian college of veterinary medicine may register to take the NAVLE by completing the steps listed here: Canadian Veterinary College Candidates Registration
• Future graduates should note that the NEB must receive proof of graduation before a Certificate of Qualification (CQ) will be granted.

Graduates and Final Year Students of International-Accredited and International Non-Accredited Schools

• International-accredited school candidates who have received approval of their NEB application can access the online registration form for the NAVLE once the registration window opens.
• International non-accredited school candidates who have been granted eligibility to register for the examination (i.e. have passed the BCSE) can access the online NAVLE registration form once the NAVLE registration window opens.

Information on the NAVLE Registration Window is found here: NAVLE Examination Dates and Registration Deadlines

A final year student must be within ten months of their expected graduation date by the end of the testing window. The applicant may register for the NAVLE by submitting:

• The completed application form in the NEB Candidate Portal
• The appropriate application documentation according to their candidate type:

• Document Checklist: Graduates - International-Accredited / International Non-Accredited

• Document Checklist: Future Graduates - International-Accredited / International Non-Accredited

• The appropriate examination fee:  Schedule of Fees

NAVLE Examination Dates and Registration Deadlines

The NAVLE is available during three (3) annual testing windows and administered during specific testing dates. However, please note that due to the score reporting timeframe and the application deadlines associated with moving to three testing windows, a candidate who tests during the July-August window would not be able to apply for and take the NAVLE during the subsequent October-November window. This means they would have to wait until the March testing window for their next attempt. 2026 - 2027 NAVLE Testing Cycle.

Test Window	Registration Period*	Testing Dates	Approximate Score Release
October - November 2026	June 1 - July 15	October 15 - November 15	December 15 - 27
March 2027	December 1 - January 7	March 1 - 21	April 20 - May 2
July - August 2027	April 1 - May 7	July 13 - August 8	September 7 - 19

 

* These are the dates you will see the NAVLE registration available on your NEB Candidate Portal.

*All NAVLE registration materials, including exam accommodation requests, must be received by the registration deadline - no exceptions.

Be aware that all candidates who register for the NAVLE must apply to the NEB first (see NEB application process). The initial application with the NEB must be approved before a candidate can proceed to register for the NAVLE through the NEB (Canadian veterinary school candidates excluded). While NEB staff do their best to review applications right up to the deadline, initial NEB applications received less than 10 business days from the NAVLE registration deadline are not guaranteed to be approved in time to register for the NAVLE.

Change of Name or Contact Information

Before submitting the online NAVLE registration, review your name, email address, and telephone number to ensure accuracy. If any of these details require updating after submitting your application, you must notify the NEB immediately.

Scheduling and Admission Permits

A Scheduling and Admission Permit with instructions for making an appointment at a Prometric test center will be issued to you after:

1. you submit your completed NAVLE registration
2. you satisfy all NAVLE fees
3. the NEB shares your NAVLE registration information with the ICVA, and
4. the registration has been processed by the NBME.

You will receive an e-mail from the ICVA notifying you that your scheduling and admission permit is available and it serves as confirmation that you can make an appointment with the their test delivery vendor, Prometric. You will also be provided with instructions on how to access the MyNBME Examinee Portal to complete the account registration. Please note that it takes some time for this permit to be issued after you have completed your registration through the NEB Portal.

You can visit the Prometric website to schedule your test date: Click Here to Schedule Your NAVLE Appointment

Thoroughly review your Scheduling and Admission Permit to ensure your name as listed on the permit is correct and matches the government-issued identification that you plan to use on test day. The permit specifies the eligibility period during which you must complete the examination.

Payment of the NAVLE Fee

The NAVLE fee charged by the NEB is found in the Schedule of Fees. Candidates must pay through the online payment system at the time of registration through the NEB Candidate Portal. You will not be permitted to take the NAVLE unless the examination fee has been paid.

The NAVLE fee is non-refundable and nontransferable. Please review our Examination Withdrawal Policy for more information.

Fraudulent Payments: Please note that if the payment method selected by you for any NAVLE services results in a dishonor or a later fraud dispute as to the validity of the payment for any NAVLE services, your NAVLE eligibility may be suspended, your scores may be withheld, and any scores that have been reported may be rescinded pending resolution of the dishonor or dispute and the payment by you of additional fees arising from such dishonor or fraud dispute. 

Retake Policy

Candidates can take the NAVLE up to five (5) times. 

Beginning with the March 2026 NAVLE testing window, graduates of an accredited college must pass the NAVLE within five attempts to be eligible for a Certificate of Qualification. Under this new policy, all previous NAVLE attempts will continue to count toward this five-attempt limit.

All other candidates will receive five new opportunities to take the NAVLE, regardless of their prior testing history. Any NAVLE attempts made before December 1, 2025, will not count toward the new five-attempt limit, including for candidates who had previously reached or exceeded the former five-attempt limit.

After the five attempts, there will be no opportunity to seek a waiver, or be granted an additional attempt. 

Candidates who were previously granted a waiver but have not yet used it will also receive five new attempts under the updated policy. The previously granted waiver will no longer apply, as all candidates will start fresh with five new opportunities to take the NAVLE beginning with the March 2026 testing window. Moving forward, no waivers will be granted, ensuring a consistent and equitable policy for all candidates. 

Candidates requiring further details about the policy regarding NAVLE attempts should review this link: https://www.icva.net/faqs/ and/or contact the NEB and ICVA.

Reporting of Scores to the NEB

Examination results are automatically sent to the NEB, with both a pass/fail designation and a scaled score being given for the NAVLE (see Scoring and Score Reports section). Each candidate’s pass/fail designation will be accessible by the provincial licensing bodies through the NEB Candidate Verification System in the NEB Candidate Portal.

The NEB also participates in the Veterinary Information Verification Agency (VIVA) of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). VIVA is the only official method to transfer scores between Canada and the USA. Candidates wishing to have scores transferred from the United States to Canada must do so through the VIVA, which will send the results to the NEB-CVMA. The NEB-CVMA will make the scores accessible to provincial veterinary licensing bodies through the NEB Candidate Verification System in the NEB Candidate Portal. Scores may not be sent directly from the USA to provincial licensing bodies.

Candidates wishing to have NAVLE scores transferred from Canada to the United States must contact the AAVSB-VIVA, indicating which state licensing board is to receive the scores:

American Association of Veterinary State Boards
(Veterinary Information Verification Agency)
3100 Main Street, Suite 208, Kansas City, Missouri 64111
Tel: (816) 931-1504 or 1-877-698-8482
Website: www.aavsb.org

Assistance for Candidates

Information on the NAVLE application process is available on this page and our Frequently Asked Questions. If you cannot find the information you need, you can contact our office for further assistance at neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org. It is better to ask for assistance than to assume that everything is fine, only to discover too late that you are unable to take the NAVLE because of problems with your application, or with your Scheduling and Admission Permit.

To reduce the potential for misunderstandings and to ensure the privacy of candidate information, the NEB and ICVA offices will correspond only with the candidate regarding NAVLE application, request for test accommodations, fee payment, registration, and score reporting questions, unless the candidate specifically authorizes the NEB or ICVA, in writing, to correspond with a third party. The NEB and ICVA may, however, correspond with the appropriate licensing body and/or veterinary school official regarding a candid

Exam Accommodations

Candidates Requesting Exam Accommodations

Reasonable accommodations are made to afford candidates with disabilities an opportunity, equal to that of non-disabled candidates, to demonstrate the required knowledge and skills tested by the NAVLE. A request for accommodation to take the NAVLE must accompany the NAVLE registration and must provide the NEB with sufficient time (by the end of the NAVLE deadline) to review the accommodation request.

The NEB’s accommodation procedures can be found on this website under Exam Accommodations. Further questions about Exam Accommodations should be directed to NEB staff via the NEB Candidate Portal or by email at neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org.

Personal Items Exceptions

Unauthorized possession of personal items while you are in the secure areas of the testing center is prohibited. However, in certain circumstances, exceptions to this policy may be granted for medical reasons. Permission for exceptions must be granted before the scheduled testing appointment and require approval from the NEB. If you need to request approval to bring personal items into the secure areas of the testing center for medical reasons, please submit a written request and documentation to the NEB at the time of your NAVLE registration. If the medical issue develops after you have submitted your registration, please contact the NEB immediately.

Important notes:

• If you are unsure whether to request an exception, please contact neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org 
• Candidates are not required to obtain advanced permission to consume food or take medication on authorized breaks.
• All personal items brought to the examination, either with prior approval from the NEB/ICVA or without 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 a possible irregular behavior violation.

Pre-Approved Items

When necessary, you can bring Pre-approved Items that do not require accommodations or approval from the NEB/ICVA to use while in the Prometric testing centers. The permissible items are typically required for chronic or acute medical situations and include standard items and medical devices, including but not limited to:

• Cough drops, EpiPens, Glucose tablets, Head coverings, Inhalers, Service animals, Wheelchairs, Oxygen tanks, TENS units, Hearing aid/Cochlear implants, Continuous Glucose Monitors, Insulin pumps

Prometric test center administrators will visually inspect your pre-approved item(s) without directly touching them or asking you to remove the item unless otherwise stated on the list of Pre-approved Items.

Prepare for the NAVLE

Prometric Test Centres for Computer-Based Testing

Prometric administers the NAVLE at international centers via computer-based testing (CBT) and offers secure testing for licensure, assessment, and certification with audio/video monitoring and data encryption. Test center locations administering the NAVLE are available on the Prometric website.

Prometric test center locations may be modified without notice. If you are affected by closures, Prometric will advise on how to make alternate testing arrangements.

Book Your Appointment

You must have your Scheduling and Admission Permit before contacting Prometric to schedule your testing appointment. Your Scheduling and Admission Permit will contain a Scheduling Number. This is the number that you will use when you schedule your testing appointment.

If you do not take the examination during the testing window for which you were approved, but wish to take it in the future, you must reapply and pay the fees again. A new Scheduling and Admission Permit is issued to approved candidates for each testing window. 

Use the Prometric ProScheduler to book an appointment date and time. Try to avoid scheduling your appointment on or near the last day of your eligibility period to allow time for unforeseen events that may require rescheduling.

When scheduling, Prometric will issue you a Prometric Confirmation Number. Please note that your Confirmation Number is not the same as your Candidate Identification Number (CIN). You will need this number to confirm, reschedule, and/or cancel your testing appointment with Prometric. The NEB does not have access to your Prometric Confirmation Number.

Changing Testing Appointment or Location and Rescheduling Your Appointment

If you need to change your scheduled appointment date, time, or location within the testing window without paying the Prometric Scheduling Fee, you must do so at least two (2) business days before your scheduled appointment by using your Prometric Confirmation Number. You can use ProScheduler online or reach out to a Prometric representative using the contact details on your Scheduling and Admission Permit. 

If you need to reschedule your appointment within less than two (2) business days before the scheduled appointment or after the scheduled appointment, please remember that doing so will incur a non-refundable fee.

This fee must be paid to Prometric via the Candidate Cares line (found on your Scheduling and Admission Permit) before rescheduling.

If you need to change your testing region after your application has been submitted, please contact the NEB at neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org. You will be required to pay a testing region change fee to make any testing region change. The fee charged by the NEB is found in the Schedule of Fees. Individuals wishing to change their testing region from the US/Canada to any of the international testing regions will be assessed an international testing fee in addition testing region change fee. All testing region changes must be made at least 10 business days prior to the start of the testing window.

You will receive a new Scheduling and Admission Permit from the ICVA containing a new scheduling number.

Any existing appointment will automatically be cancelled, and it will be your responsibility to schedule a new appointment.

Subject Matter

The NAVLE is constructed according to the following examination blueprint, which was derived from the 2017 job analysis conducted by the ICVA. The resulting blueprint was approved in 2018. There are two dimensions to the blueprint: competencies and animal species.

Competencies are the tasks that veterinarians perform in their daily work, and they are divided into four main categories. Each category is assigned a weight reflecting its importance in veterinary practice in Canada and the US.

Competency Domains	Target Blueprint
Clinical Practice	70%
Data Gathering and Interpretation	35%
Health Maintenance and Prevention	35%
Communication	8%
Communication with Clients	5%
Communication with Veterinary and other Professionals	3%
Professionalism, Practice Management, and Wellness	7%
Professional Development and Life-Long Learning	3%
Veterinary Practice Management	4%
Preventive Medicine and Animal Welfare	15%
Environment Health and Safety	5%
Veterinary Public Health	4%
Animal Welfare Issues and Concerns	6%

 

Species and Diagnoses pertains to the various animal species involved in veterinary medicine. Each species is assigned a weight based on how frequently they are encountered in veterinary practice in Canada and the US.

For additional information on the blueprint and the NAVLE job analysis, see the ICVA’s website.

NAVLE Tutorial and Sample Questions

The ICVA offers free tutorial for NAVLE candidates. It is recommended that all candidates download and review this tutorial prior to taking their exam at a Prometric testing center. The tutorial demonstrates how the computerized test functions and includes 20 sample questions for practice. The sample questions are available in English and French.

On the day of the exam, the same tutorial (excluding the sample questions) will be available at the Prometric center, where candidates can spend 15 minutes viewing it before starting the test.

Below are the links to the NAVLE Tutorial in both English and French. Please follow the instructions after opening the tutorial.

• English version
• French version

An additional selection of sample questions is also available here.

Self-Assessments

The ICVA offers web-based NAVLE Self-Assessments that follows the exam blueprint to help you identify relative strengths and weaknesses while familiarizing yourself with the test's content and format as you prepare for the NAVLE.

NAVLE Self-Assessments are available for purchase through the ICVA website.

The NAVLE Self-Assessment is offered in regular and expanded feedback formats through multiple forms and in English or French.

Get Ready for Exam Day

Exam Structure and Timing

Description of the Exam

The NAVLE is designed to assess your knowledge of veterinary medicine as it relates to entry-level private clinical practice. The examination covers all animal species commonly seen by private practitioners in North America.

The total timing for the NAVLE is seven (7) hours and 36 minutes and consists of 360 multiple-choice questions administered in twelve (12) blocks of 30 questions each. Approximately 15%-20% of the NAVLE questions will include graphics (such as a photograph or radiograph), viewable with zoom, contrast, and pan tools for better analysis.

An on-screen calculator will be available for use during your examination.

You will have 33 minutes to complete each block. During each testing block, you may skip items or mark them for later review. After completing each testing block, you can review your responses and make any edits before submitting. Once you submit each testing block or the testing block time has ended, your answers are final, and you cannot regain access to the submitted questions.

During the exam, a fixed total time of 50 minutes is designated for use during authorized breaks and transition between blocks.

Break Time

During the exam, a fixed total time of 50 minutes is designated for use during authorized breaks and transition between blocks. Read below for more information on authorized versus unauthorized breaks.

Authorized Breaks 

• Approved breaks built into the exam timing.
• Only permitted between testing blocks.
• Time you spend between testing blocks, whether you remain at your seat or leave the testing room.

Unauthorized Breaks 

A break taking during a testing block:

• Requires the proctor to file an incident report to be shared with the ICVA.
• Continues consuming your testing time since the clock does not stop.
• May be investigated as an irregular behavior violation.

Exam Day

Check-In Procedures

Arrive at the testing center at least 30 minutes ahead of your scheduled appointment time to accommodate check-in procedures. Late arrivals (30 minutes or more after the scheduled appointment time) will not be admitted. If you need to reschedule within your testing window, you will need to satisfy Prometric’s fee. 

When checking in, you must present your Scheduling and Admission Permit along with a valid government-issued photo ID. If these are not provided at the start of the check-in, you won’t be able to take the test, and you will need to settle Prometric’s fee before you can reschedule within your testing window.

You can show your Scheduling and Admission Permit either on paper or electronically on your smartphone.

Security Procedures

When you arrive at the test center, you must present your scheduling and admission permit and the required identification as described on your scheduling and admission permit. Acceptable forms of unexpired identification include:

• Passport
• Driver’s license
• State ID
• Other forms of government-issued identification

Electronic versions of your ID are not acceptable.

Your name, as it appears on your scheduling and admission permit, must match the name on your form(s) of identification exactly. If the name listed on your scheduling and admission is not correct, contact the ICVA immediately. Please review your Scheduling and Admission Permit for details and limited exceptions.

Name changes or corrections cannot be made within 7 business days of a scheduled testing date. If your government-issued identification form contains only a photograph, a second form of unexpired identification with your signature is required, such as a student ID or credit card.

Remember! If you do not bring your Scheduling and Admission Permit on paper or electronically (e.g., via smartphone) and acceptable identification, you WILL NOT be admitted to the test and will be required to pay Prometric a fee to reschedule your test. Your rescheduled test date(s) must fall within your eligibility period. Having your eligibility reset does not guarantee an opening will be available within the testing window.

After completing the check-in process, test center staff will escort you to your assigned testing station and provide a brief overview of how to use the computer equipment. To start the examination, you must enter the Candidate Identification Number (CIN) found in your Scheduling and Admission Permit. Once you enter the tutorial, you cannot cancel or reschedule your examination. The test session ends after you complete and exit all six (6) testing blocks, or when the total test time expires. At the end of the exam, you will receive an “end of session” notice, indicating you appeared for the test.

There are no facilities available for family and friends to wait at the center while you test; plan to meet them elsewhere after the examination ends.

Starting and Completing the Test

Prometric strives to conduct exams smoothly at the scheduled time and location. Sometimes, unforeseen issues can prevent you from testing. Below are common reasons and helpful steps to take if such a situation arises:

Technical Issue:

If you experience any computer problems during your test, inform the test centre staff immediately. For technical issues preventing exam completion, please also contact the ICVA promptly with your name, ICVA ID, test date, and a brief description of the problem. Allow at least 15 business days for investigation, and you will receive a written update after review.

Illness:

If you are feeling unwell and cannot make it to your exam, it is best to contact Prometric as soon as possible to reschedule. This way, you can pay the rescheduling fee and find a new testing date that falls within the testing window.

Emergency Closures:

During emergencies like severe weather, natural disasters, or technical issues, Prometric testing centers may become unsafe or inaccessible, leading to delays or cancellations. If a testing center closes, Prometric will reschedule your appointment at no cost within the testing window. However, the new appointment may be at a different testing location, depending on availability.

Other Reasons:

If you start the exam but are unable to finish it for reasons not mentioned earlier, please do not hesitate to contact the ICVA to report a grievance.

For more information on how to report a test administration problem, visit the ICVA website.

Grievances

If you believe the administration of your examination or the conditions during the exam negatively affected your performance, you can file a grievance to request an investigation by the ICVA. To file a grievance, you must complete the following:

1. Access the File a Grievance online form.
2. Input and submit the request details, including date, time, and location of the exam, along with as much detail as possible about the event.
3. Additionally, it is important to file a report with Prometric, either directly at the testing center immediately after your exam or through the Prometric website (where you can upload supporting documentation), within the same ten (10) business days.

Please ensure your grievance request meets these guidelines and is submitted on time; incomplete or late submissions will not be reviewed. Important note: the investigation process may take up to 60 days, and once complete, ICVA staff will provide a follow-up response.

Test-taking Conduct

Testing Conditions

Policies and procedures governing administration of the examination have been established to ensure that no candidate or group of candidates receives unfair advantage on the examination, inadvertently or otherwise.

Efforts are made to ensure that the examination is administered under standard conditions and is consistent with the principles on which the examination is developed and scored. However, if the integrity of the examination process appears to have been jeopardized, the ICVA reserves the right to invalidate all or any part of an examination or to withhold scores even if it cannot prove that you personally engaged in prohibited conduct under the Candidate Agreement or that you benefited from the prohibited conduct of others.

Physical security of examination materials is controlled through computerized, electronic transmission of encrypted data. Observation of the testing sessions will be aided by use of audio, video recording and other monitoring equipment available at test centers. All testing sessions for the NAVLE are monitored by staff at the test center.

Candidates observed engaging in possible violation(s) of testing rules or other forms of prohibited conduct during an examination may not be told of the observation by test center staff at the time.

You may not bring any personal belongings into the testing room, including, but not limited to mechanical or electronic devices, outerwear, brimmed hats, bags (i.e., backpacks, purses), study materials (i.e., books or notes), calculators, watches (analog or digital), recording or filming devices, radios, electronic devices, cellular telephones, food or beverages (other than water in a clear or transparent container with a lid or cap). If you bring any personal belongings to the test center, you must store them in a designated locker outside the testing area. Upon reasonable suspicion, such personal belongings and their contents may be inspected. If you have any doubt whether an item may be brought into the testing room, it is your obligation to obtain express permission from staff at the test center before you begin your examination.

Any materials that reasonably appear to be reproductions of any NAVLE materials will be confiscated. Making notes of any kind during an examination, except on the materials provided by the test center for this purpose, is not permitted.

Candidates are not permitted to communicate with, seek aid from, or provide aid to any other candidate during the examination.

NAVLE Candidate Agreement

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 can be accessed here.

Receiving Your Results

Post-Exam Scoring and Score Reports

Once you have finished your test, your exam data is sent electronically via secure transfer to NBME. They carefully review your responses, conducting thorough evaluations and quality checks to ensure everything is accurate. Your responses are then turned into a raw score, the total points from correct answers, and converted into a three-digit scaled score. Before your NAVLE Score Report is shared with you, a final quality control check is done to ensure your score is accurate.

To allow time for the evaluation and quality control process to take place, exam scores will be shared with you and the NEB about four (4) to five (5) weeks after the testing window closes. Once your results are available, you will receive an email with instructions on how to access your NAVLE Score Report through the secure NBME online portal. NAVLE candidates are not permitted to review their tests, and there are no rescores or appeals of NAVLE results.

The NAVLE Score Report provides a pass or fail designation, three-digit scaled score, and a diagnostic report of your performance on the content areas. The sample NAVLE Interactive Score Report is a helpful resource to use when familiarizing yourself with the contents of the score report.

School Score Reports by Candidate Consent

The NAVLE application includes a consent statement, authorizing the ICVA to report individual NAVLE scores, identified by name, to the candidate’s veterinary school. This consent is only for candidates who are senior students at AVMA - accredited veterinary schools. Scores for candidates who grant consent will be reported to the Associate Dean of Academic Affairs at the candidate’s veterinary school (or their designee) shortly after the release of scores to the licensing boards. In addition, the school will receive a copy of the candidate’s score report. A candidate’s score report will not be made part of such candidate’s academic record. Schools will be required to keep the score reports confidential, and to use the information only for internal purposes at the veterinary school.

Candidates are under no obligation to agree to the consent statement, and scores for candidates who do not grant consent will not be reported to their veterinary school. A candidate’s decision whether to release their score will not affect the candidate’s student status at the veterinary school. 

Consent for Canadian candidates will be collected by the National Examining Board of the CMVA as part of the NEB’s NAVLE registration.

Candidates may change their consent status by submitting a written request to the NEB by e-mail at any time up to the opening of the testing window.

ICVA’s Right to Cancel, Invalidate, and Withhold Scores

ICVA is committed to reporting valid examination scores that accurately reflect Candidate performance on the NAVLE. For this reason, ICVA maintains test administration, security and scoring standards designed to ensure that all Candidates are given the same opportunity to demonstrate their abilities and that no Candidate obtains an unfair advantage on any NAVLE. ICVA reserves the right to conduct psychometric and statistical analyses of NAVLE administration and Candidate response data and scores to identify potential violations of the Candidate Agreement and to ensure score validity. ICVA may, in its sole discretion, cancel, invalidate or withhold NAVLE scores if any psychometric or statistical analysis provides a reasonable basis to question the NAVLE score's validity.

ICVA reserves the right to cancel, invalidate or withhold any NAVLE score if, in its sole judgment:

1. there is a reasonable basis to question the exam score's validity; or
2. a testing irregularity occurred before, during or after the administration of the NAVLE that could impact the validity of any NAVLE score; or
3. a Candidate violated the terms of the NAVLE Candidate Agreement.

If ICVA cancels or invalidates an exam score because there is a reasonable basis to question the exam score's validity, ICVA is not obligated to further investigate the matter or to determine whether a violation of the NAVLE Candidate Agreement has occurred. ICVA may simply cancel or invalidate the score and provide the impacted Candidate with another opportunity to take the NAVLE at issue.

No Candidate is entitled to appeal ICVA's decision to cancel, invalidate or delay a score where ICVA's action is limited to such cancellation, invalidation or delay. The NAVLE Exam Security Investigation and Appeal Policy shall have no applicability to ICVA score cancellations, invalidations or delays carried out by ICVA solely because there is a reasonable basis to question the exam score's validity in accordance with this provision as described above.

ICVA also has the right in its sole discretion to withhold one or more exam scores pending the outcome of an investigation related to the administration of the NAVLE that is the subject or related to the investigation, to determine whether a Candidate violated the Candidate Agreement, or whether any other potential misconduct has taken place that could threaten the integrity of the NAVLE or the validity of future NAVLE scores. If ICVA is withholding a score pending investigation, ICVA shall inform the Candidate in writing that the score is being withheld and then inform the Candidate when the investigation is complete and provide the decision made by ICVA related to the exam score.

RETAKE FEES AND ATTEMPT LIMITS FOLLOWING SCORE CANCELLATION OR INVALIDATION

1. Validity Concerns Arising from a Candidate’s Examination

If ICVA cancels or invalidates a Candidate’s NAVLE score because there is a reasonable basis to question the validity of that Candidate’s score based on that Candidate’s examination data, and ICVA does not determine that the Candidate violated the NAVLE Candidate Agreement, the Candidate may retake the NAVLE one time without paying the Application Fee. If ICVA subsequently cancels or invalidates that same Candidate’s retake score due to validity concerns arising from that Candidate’s examination data, the Candidate must pay the Application Fee for any additional retakes. Each NAVLE such administration counts toward the Candidate’s lifetime limit of five (5) NAVLE attempts, regardless of any score cancellations or invalidations.

1. Validity Concerns Arising from Systemic or External Circumstances

Where ICVA cancels or invalidates scores due to circumstances not attributable to the Candidate, such as exam form compromise, technical failure, significant test administration errors, or misconduct of others—and ICVA does not determine that the Candidate violated the NAVLE Candidate Agreement, the affected Candidate may retake the NAVLE without paying the Application Fee, and such administrations shall not count toward the Candidate’s lifetime limit of five (5) NAVLE attempts.

NAVLE Score Transfers

Your NAVLE score will be reported to the NEB and the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). The initial score reporting is incorporated into your NAVLE registration fee. All subsequent requests for score reports must be directed to the AAVSB online via VAULT Transfer Services (the NEB does not process NAVLE score transfers).

The AAVSB website will provide the current fees for score transfer services. Your scores cannot be transferred until after they have been released and reported to the NEB.

ICVA Exam Security Investigation and Appeal Policy

The ICVA reserves the right in its sole discretion to investigate any alleged or reasonably suspected violation of the NAVLE Candidate Agreement (the “Candidate Agreement”) and any alleged or reasonably suspected behavior that is dishonest, improper or contrary to the principles and standards applicable to the field of veterinary practice or to the moral norms of the general community (collectively, an “Ethical Behavior Violation”). In addition to investigating an Ethical Behavior Violation, ICVA reserves the right in its sole discretion to take all other lawful actions warranted under the circumstances in relation to the subject of an investigation if ICVA determines that the subject violated ICVA’s rights or the terms, conditions, and policies that govern the NAVLE, or any applicable law or regulation.

ISSUANCE OF A NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION

If ICVA initiates an investigation of an alleged or suspected Ethical Behavior Violation by a Candidate and determines in its sole discretion that the allegation or suspicion is well-founded, ICVA will provide written notice to the Candidate of the investigation (the “Notice of Investigation”), which shall include the following:

1. A brief description of the alleged or suspected Ethical Behavior Violation.
2. The terms of the Candidate Agreement that the Candidate is alleged to have violated or suspected of violating, or a summary of how the Candidate’s alleged or suspected conduct may be an Ethical Behavior Violation.
3. In ICVA’s sole discretion, questions related to the investigation that the Candidate must answer and/or requests for the Candidate to produce specified documents, data, and materials.
4. A request for the Candidate to explain their conduct and/or any mitigating circumstances that should be taken into consideration by ICVA.
5. A deadline for the Candidate to reply to the Notice of Investigation and provide the requested information.
6. The range of potential sanctions that ICVA may impose on the Candidate if the allegation or suspicion is substantiated at the conclusion of the investigation.
7. A notification, if applicable, of any NAVLE score hold or prohibition on NAVLE administration during the pendency of the investigation, in ICVA ’s sole discretion.
8. A statement that failure to cooperate with the investigation or answer the questions posed or produce the documents, data and materials requested will constitute a separate and independent basis for finding that the Candidate violated the Candidate Agreement.
9. A statement that failure to respond in substance to the Notice of Investigation will be deemed a waiver by the Candidate of any right of appeal for the Investigation Findings and Conclusions (as defined below).

CANDIDATE COOPERATION AND RESPONSE TO NOTICE OF INVESTIGATION Candidates are reminded of their obligations under the terms of the Candidate Agreement to:

• fully cooperate with ICVA Ethical Behavior Violation investigations;
• 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 and its representatives.

After receiving the Candidate’s response to the Notice of Investigation, ICVA may require the Candidate to answer any number of follow up questions, produce additional specified documents, data, and materials, and/or submit to an in-person or remote interview, in ICVA’s sole discretion. Each such request for additional information will include a deadline by which the Candidate must reply in writing to ICVA. The Candidate’s sole and exclusive opportunity to provide ICVA with relevant facts, evidence, explanations of their conduct and mitigating circumstances is in writing in response to ICVA ’s initial Notice of Investigation and any follow up requests made by ICVA.

ICVA may, in its sole discretion, require that the Candidate participate in an in-person or remote virtual interview regarding the investigation. ICVA will notify the Candidate in writing if an interview is required during the investigation.

NAVLE SCORE HOLD PENDING INVESTIGATION

During the pendency of an investigation of a Candidate who has already taken the NAVLE, ICVA may in its sole discretion withhold the Candidate’s NAVLE score and/or not release the score to the Candidate’s licensing board and/or to the archive of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (“AAVSB”), until such time that ICVA conclusively determines either that: (1) the Candidate did not participate in or contribute to the alleged or suspected Ethical Behavior Violation under investigation; or (2) the release, cancellation or invalidation of the Candidate’s NAVLE  score is addressed as part of the Investigation Findings and Conclusions set forth in a Final Report of Ethical Behavior Investigation and Notice of Sanctions.

NAVLE ADMINISTRATION PROHIBITION PENDING INVESTIGATION

During the pendency of an investigation of a Candidate, ICVA may in its sole discretion prohibit the Candidate from registering for, scheduling and/or participating in an administration of the NAVLE until such time that ICVA conclusively determines either that: (1) the Candidate did not participate in or contribute to the alleged or suspected Ethical Behavior Violation under investigation; or (2) the Candidate’s ability to participate in a future NAVLE administration is addressed as part of the Investigation Findings and Conclusions set forth in a Final Report of Ethical Behavior Investigation and Notice of Sanctions.

FINDINGS AND CONCLUSIONS OF INVESTIGATION

In conducting its investigation, ICVA will consider all relevant and material information, statements, documents, data and other evidence collected by or reasonably made available to ICVA in the course of the investigation, including responsive information submitted by the Candidate, in order to determine: (1) the findings of material fact relevant to the alleged or suspected Ethical Behavior Violation, (2) whether the material facts reasonably establish that it is more likely than not that the Candidate participated in or contributed to an Ethical Behavior Violation under the applicable terms of the Candidate Agreement and/or other ICVA terms or policies and, (3) if ICVA finds that an Ethical Behavior Violation occurred, what sanctions will be imposed against the Candidate (collectively, “Investigation Findings and Conclusions”). If ICVA determines based on its review and analysis of the evidence that no Ethical Behavior Violation has occurred, it will notify the Candidate in writing of that determination and close the investigation without any further action.

RANGE OF SANCTIONS FOR ETHICAL BEHAVIOR VIOLATIONS

If, following the conclusion of an investigation, ICVA reasonably concludes that a Candidate has participated in or contributed to an Ethical Behavior Violation, failed to fully cooperate in any Ethical Behavior Investigation, or provided false or misleading information to ICVA at any time, ICVA may impose one or more of the following sanctions:

• Prohibit or disqualify the Candidate from taking the NAVLE for a fixed period of time, until the costs of investigation are paid (as described below) or indefinitely;
• Impose special conditions of taking the NAVLE in the future;
• Require the Candidate to reimburse ICVA for the cost of its investigation and/or for any legal fees incurred by ICVA due to the Candidate’s Ethical Behavior Violation;
• Provide a copy of ICVA’s Final Report of Ethical Behavior Investigation and Notice of Sanctions to all Legitimately Interested Third Parties (as defined below), including but not limited to, each licensing board to which the Candidate may apply for a license and the AAVSB; and
• Pursue a civil lawsuit and/or refer the matter for criminal prosecution by state and/or federal authorities or any government agency with jurisdiction.

Sanctions to be imposed by ICVA in connection with the Findings and Conclusions of an investigation will initially be set forth in a Draft Report of Ethical Behavior Investigation and Notice of Sanctions but will not be imposed until a Final Report is issued by ICVA, as explained in greater detail below.

DEVELOPMENT OF A DRAFT REPORT OF ETHICAL BEHAVIOR INVESTIGATION AND NOTICE OF SANCTIONS

If ICVA determines that an Ethical Behavior Violation has occurred, ICVA will prepare and send to the Candidate a document entitled “Draft Report of Ethical Behavior Investigation and Notice of Sanctions” (the “Draft Report”) that explains the Findings and Conclusions and includes the following key elements:

1. A brief description of the alleged or suspected Ethical Behavior Violation and how it was brought to ICVA ’s attention.
2. A summary of the evidence and findings of fact gleaned from the investigation, including the Candidate’s response(s) to ICVA ’s Notice of Investigation and investigative request(s) for information.
3. The terms of the Candidate Agreement that the Candidate was found to have violated, or a summary of how the Candidate violated the ICVA’s policy on Ethical Behavior.
4. The sanctions to be imposed against the Candidate for the Ethical Behavior Violation.
5. A specified time period for the Candidate to submit a written response to ICVA to identify any materially inaccurate statements contained in elements one through three (identified above) contained in the Draft Report.
6. A statement that failure to respond to the Draft Report will be deemed the Candidate’s agreement to the accuracy of all contents contained in the Draft Report and a waiver of the Candidate’s right to appeal the Investigation Findings and Conclusions.
7. A notice that Legitimately Interested Third Parties will be provided with a copy of or access to the Final Report of Ethical Behavior Investigation and Notice of Sanctions.
8. Information about the Candidate's right, as applicable, to appeal Investigation Findings and Conclusions contained in the Draft Report.

OPPORTUNITY TO OBJECT TO ELEMENTS OF THE DRAFT REPORT AND SANCTIONS TO BE IMPOSED

After receiving the Draft Report, the Candidate will have ten (10) calendar days in which to advise ICVA in writing of any statements contained in elements one through three of the Draft Report (identified above) that the Candidate purports are materially inaccurate. The Candidate’s claims of material inaccuracies in the Draft Report must be limited to elements one through three and must be specific, reasoned and supported by facts and evidence previously provided by the Candidate or otherwise collected by ICVA prior to the issuance of the Draft Report. ICVA will not, under any circumstances, consider any new facts or evidence provided by the Candidate following the issuance of a Draft Report.

If the Candidate notifies ICVA in writing within the allowed time period of purported inaccuracies in elements one though three of the Draft Report, ICVA will endeavor to resolve any disagreements with the Candidate’s view of these elements of the Draft Report. The time period to resolve any disagreements regarding the designated elements of the Draft Report shall be limited to thirty (30) calendar days from the date ICVA first receives the Candidate’s written objections, unless ICVA agrees in writing, in its sole discretion, to extend this time period (the “Draft Report Objection Resolution Period”). The negotiation of the Candidate and ICVA over the contents of elements one though three of the Draft Report may result in ICVA issuing one or more additional versions of the Draft Report, in its sole discretion, in an effort to resolve their disagreement(s).

If the Candidate notifies ICVA in writing in response to the Draft Report that it agrees with the contents of elements one though three and the sanctions to be imposed, ICVA  will finalize the Draft Report and issue the Final Report of Ethical Behavior Investigation and Notice of Sanctions (“Final Report”), and the investigation will be closed with no right for the Candidate to appeal. Any sanctions will be imposed against the Candidate as set forth in the Final Report, and the Final Report will be distributed and/or made available to Legitimately Interested Third Parties.

If the Candidate fails to respond to the Draft Report within the allowed time period, the Candidate will be deemed to: (1) agree with ICVA that the Draft Report is accurate in all respects; and (2) waive any right to appeal the Investigation Findings and Conclusions, including any sanctions imposed by ICVA. In any such instance of a Candidate’s failure to respond to a Draft Report, the Draft Report will be finalized and the Candidate’s failure to respond to the Draft Report will be noted in the Final Report, and the investigation will be closed with no right for the Candidate to appeal. Any sanctions will be imposed against the Candidate as set forth in the Final Report, and the Final Report will be distributed and/or made available to Legitimately Interested Third Parties.

If the Candidate and ICVA agree on the contents of elements one though three of the Draft Report but the Candidate nevertheless notifies ICVA in writing of their objection to the sanctions to be imposed by ICVA as set forth in the Draft Report, ICVA will issue a written Notice of Right to Appeal and the scope of the appeal shall be limited to the sanctions to be imposed. If the Candidate follows the directions in the Notice of Right to Appeal, the Candidate’s appeal will be handled as provided in the Appeal Process below.

If, following the expiration of the Draft Report Objection Resolution Period (including, as applicable, any extension granted in ICVA’s sole discretion), the Candidate and ICVA have not reached agreement regarding the disputed content in elements one though three of the Draft Report, ICVA will append the Candidate’s written objections as an attachment to the most recent version of the Draft Report, with any responsive comments of ICVA in its sole discretion, and ICVA will issue a written Notice of Right to Appeal. If the Candidate follows the directions in the Notice of Right to Appeal, the Candidate’s appeal will be handled as provided in the Appeal Process below.

If the Candidate fails to timely submit an appeal in any of the above instances, the Draft Report will be finalized in a Final Report reflecting the most recent version of the Draft Report, the sanctions will be imposed by ICVA as set forth in the Final Report and the Final Report will be distributed and/or made available to Legitimately Interested Third Parties.

APPEAL PROCESS

If a Candidate timely submits a written appeal to ICVA in accordance with the Notice of Right to Appeal issued by ICVA, the Candidate may appeal only those aspects of the Investigation Findings and Conclusions set forth in the Draft Report that are clearly identified in the Notice of Right to Appeal. The appeal must be submitted in writing within ten (10) calendar days of the delivery of ICVA’s Notice of Right to Appeal. All appeals timely submitted will be decided by an Appeal Panel composed of three volunteers from within the ICVA stakeholder community appointed by ICVA, including at least one member of the ICVA Board of Directors. Although a Candidate pursuing an appeal may have a legal representative assist in the appeals process, all expenses and costs related to such legal representation shall be paid exclusively by the Candidate. ICVA shall not under any circumstances be liable for the fees or costs associated with Candidate’s representation by legal counsel, regardless of the outcome of the appeal.

The scope of the appeal shall be limited to the matters specified in the Notice of Right to Appeal and all facts, evidence, and arguments that the Candidate desires the Appeal Panel to consider must be set forth in the Candidate’s written Notice of Appeal. The Notice of Appeal shall be limited to no more than ten (10) double-spaced pages of text in twelve-point font with one-inch margins. The Appeal Panel shall not consider any new evidence or information that was not previously submitted to ICVA by the Candidate or otherwise collected by ICVA during the investigation and prior to the issuance of the Draft Report.

Where the scope of the Candidate’s appeal includes a disagreement regarding the contents of elements one through three of the Draft Report, the Appeal Panel has the authority on appeal to:

1. Modify any of the following elements of the Draft Report:
2. A brief description of the alleged or suspected Ethical Behavior Violation and how it was brought to ICVA’s attention;
3. A summary of the evidence and findings of fact gleaned from the investigation, including the Candidate’s response(s) to ICVA’s Notice of Investigation and investigative request(s) for information;
4. The terms of the Candidate Agreement that the Candidate was found to have violated, or a summary of how the Candidate’s conduct was an Ethical Behavior Violation; and
5. Alter the sanctions set forth in the Draft Report.

Where the Candidate and ICVA agreed on the contents of elements one through three of the Draft Report, the scope of the appeal shall be limited to the sanctions to be imposed, and the Appeal Panel may only alter the sanctions set forth in the Draft Report.

Prior to the Appeal Panel's review and consideration of the appeal, ICVA will provide all relevant documents and evidence from the investigation to the Appeal Panel. The Appeal Panel:

• Will consider only the information contained in the Draft Report and the underlying evidence collected by ICVA in the investigation, including the information provided by the Candidate during the investigation.
• Will limit their consideration to the scope of the appeal set forth in the ICVA Notice of Right to Appeal.
• Will convene privately in one or more synchronous in-person or remote virtual meetings to discuss the appeal, deliberate, and reach a decision.
• May seek legal advice and consult with ICVA legal counsel in the course of deciding an appeal.

Neither the Candidate who submitted the appeal nor their legal representatives may attend the Appeal Panel’s deliberations or meetings, and there will be no hearing or taking of testimony or presentation of oral arguments. The decision of the Appeal Panel must be made by the majority of its members. The Appeal Panel will issue a written decision to ICVA within sixty (60) calendar days of the Candidate’s submission of a Notice of Appeal, including a summary of the factual basis and rationale for the decision. No member of the Appeal Panel will issue any dissent or other written statement contrary to the decision of the Appeal Panel.

Within ten (10) calendar days of ICVA’s receipt of the Appeal Panel’s decision, ICVA will notify the Candidate in writing of the decision and deliver to the Candidate a Final Report that reflects the decision of the Appeal Panel. Any sanctions will be imposed against the Candidate as set forth in the Final Report, and the Final Report will be distributed and/or made available to Legitimately Interested Third Parties.

The decision of the Appeal Panel shall be final and binding as to all matters related to the appeal and the Candidate shall have no right of further appeal or any other recourse against ICVA in relation to the investigation and any matters addressed in the Final Report.

LEGITIMATELY INTERESTED THIRD PARTIES

Legitimately Interested Third Parties include all licensing boards to which the Candidate has applied or may apply for a license, the AAVSB, any veterinary education program where the Candidate is currently enrolled or to which the Candidate has applied, any regulator, government agency, current or prospective employer of the Candidate or educational institution that makes an official written request to ICVA for information about the Candidate.

Frequently Asked Questions

For further information on the NAVLE, the NEB examination process, or any other NEB required examinations, please review our FAQs page. Please also check the ICVA's website for further information on the NAVLE.