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United States · Licensing exams

Vet licensing: how to get a veterinarian’s license

Vet licensing is handled by each state or province, and you need a license everywhere you practice. The path runs through a qualifying degree or equivalency, a pass on the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) and an application to the board. The American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB) points out that passing a test doesn’t equal being licensed, so learn your board’s rules early.

  • 2 routesTo qualify for the NAVLE
  • Each stateYou need a license where you practice
  • Set by your boardLicensing requirements and fees
Where to study

Updated November 2026 · Written from official sources, listed at the bottom of this page

The main steps

  1. Qualify: graduate from a school accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), or, if your school isn’t accredited, complete the steps of the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE).
  2. Pass the NAVLE, which comes from the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA).
  3. Pass any extra exam your jurisdiction wants, such as a law exam.
  4. Send your board its application, documents and fee, and have your score sent if it didn’t go there automatically.

The order can vary. If your board handles its own NAVLE approvals, you contact it before you apply for the NAVLE.

NAVLE eligibility and dates →How the NAVLE works →

What a licensing board may ask for

Every jurisdiction has its own list. The AAVSB gives these as examples:

  • A completed licensure application
  • Your transcript or diploma from your school
  • Letters of professional reference
  • Your work history
  • Basic personal details and a photograph
  • Proof of citizenship or work authorization
  • Payment for licensing fees
AAVSB: Getting your license ↗Find your state’s board →

Extra exams some jurisdictions require

Some jurisdictions want a jurisprudence exam on their own laws. The AAVSB runs State and Provincial Assessment (SPA) exams for some of them, and ICVA gives the Wisconsin State Laws and Rules Examination. ICVA also offers Species Specific Exams, in companion animal or equine. Only a licensing board can request one.

AAVSB: SPA exams ↗ICVA: Wisconsin laws and rules exam ↗ICVA: Species Specific Exams ↗

Is vet certification the same as a license?

Not quite. A license is what the state gives you to practice. Vet certification can mean a certificate from the ECFVG or PAVE programs, which is a step toward a license, not a license. It can also mean specialty board certification, which isn’t one of the licensing steps above and isn’t among the exams and programs on ICVA’s or the AAVSB’s pages.

AAVSB: About PAVE ↗AVMA: About ECFVG ↗
Sources: AAVSB · ICVA and 6 more. Checked November 2026.

Rules and fees can change, so check the official site before your test.

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