Previously known as the Qualifying Examination (QE)
The Veterinary Educational Assessment (VEA®) used by veterinary schools in order to assess the knowledge of their students in basic science or pre-clinical subjects. The web-based multiple choice examination has five broad content areas: anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, microbiology, and pathology. Schools interested in using the VEA® should contact the NBVME office. This examination was previously known as the Qualifying Examination (QE), as discribed in the History section.
The current Veterinary Educational Assessment (VEA®) was initially known as the Qualifying Examination (QE). The ICVA, in cooperation with the National Board of Medical Examiners, developed and administered the QE for use in the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE), a certification program for graduates of non-accredited veterinary colleges offered by the American Association of Veterinary State Boards.
The Qualifying Examination was first administered in August 2002. Beginning with the August 2004 examination, the VEA has been administered via the internet using web-based testing. In accordance with a decision made by the AAVSB, the May 15, 2014 administration was the last use of the QE as part of the PAVE program.
Since 2005, the web-based QE was also offered to accredited veterinary medical schools as a standardized assessment of the basic science knowledge of their students. Since September 2014, the examination as been used solely by veterinary schools to assess the basic science knowledge of their students.
Information regarding the Veterinary Educational Assessment is available in the VEA® Candidate Bulletin.
Practice Versions of the VEA®
Sample VEA® questions and a web-based practice version of the VEA® can be found here.
VEA® Technical Reports are available here.