Check the News and Updates page regularly — it's ICVA's central hub for announcements affecting candidates, including policy changes (like the 2026 retake policy update), exam structure changes, and deadlines. The ICVA Blog offers longer-form content, and the quarterly In Focus newsletter is distributed primarily to ICVA's partner organizations but is worth reviewing for context and additional information.

The Candidate FAQ is written for candidates. Licensing boards, veterinary school staff (including VEA administration), and ICVA volunteers should refer to the companion ICVA Partner FAQ, which covers board score access and transfers, VEA administration, volunteering and committee nominations, and partner-specific communication channels.

Your ICVAID is the unique identifier ICVA uses to track you across every process you'll touch as a candidate: logging into the Candidate Dashboard, ordering a duplicate NAVLE score report and filing a grievance all require it. Keep it somewhere safe alongside your date of birth, since the two together (plus an access code) are how you'll authenticate your account to enter most ICVA tools.

Use the “Find My ICVAID” lookup tool and enter your first name, last name, and date of birth exactly as you provided them when you registered.

Your Access Code is the unique identifier used to access your Candidate Dashboard. Candidates who recently applied for the NAVLE should allow time for payment processing and receipt of the confirmation email. Candidates with prior applications should check the original NAVLE application email or use the access code retrieval process available on the Candidate Dashboard.

ICVA administers several distinct assessments. This section is a quick orientation before you dive into the topic-specific sections that follow.

ICVA updates fee amounts with each testing cycle and published figures can vary slightly by source page. Treat all dollar amounts here as directional — always confirm the current fee on the live assessment page. All fees are paid by Visa or MasterCard only and are nonrefundable and nontransferable. After paying through a Fee Payment page, you will receive a confirmation email from ICVA.

ICVA is committed to following the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by providing equal exam access to all candidates. The application process includes an opportunity for you to indicate the need for reasonable test accommodations.

ICVA distinguishes between two related but different processes: formal disability accommodations under the ADA, and temporary non-standard testing conditions for short-term medical situations. Confusing the two is one of the most common candidate mistakes, so the comparison below is worth reading closely.

Available accommodations include timing formats with more frequent breaks, 1.25x/1.5x/2x extended time, 2x time combined with more frequent breaks, or other accommodations by special request; any extended-time or added-break timing format accommodation moves you to a two-day testing schedule. If you've received the same accommodation before (for example on the SAT, GRE, MCAT, or through a school IEP/504 plan), submit that proof plus a current certification from a qualified professional. If this is a first-time or different request, you'll need an evaluation or a a typewritten, signed, dated letter on letterhead from a qualified professional that includes their qualifications, their evaluation, and why the accommodation is necessary.

Complete the NAVLE Accommodation Request Form, check the accommodation box on your initial NAVLE application – even if you have documentation on file from a previous NAVLE attempt – and submit your personal statement plus documentation as a PDF (a signature page may be a .jpg/.jpeg) by emailing accommodations@icva.net or uploading through the Candidate Dashboard. Word documents and cloud-storage links (Google Drive, Dropbox, etc.) are not accepted. Please keep in mind that requests are processed in order of receipt, so be sure to submit your request well in advance of the application deadline in case additional information is needed.

The processing of your NAVLE Scheduling and Admission Permit can begin only after your application to test and your accommodation request have both been received by the applicable deadline and approved. Permit delivery timing varies and can take at least 4 weeks after approval for the test (and for accommodations, if applicable).

Once you receive your NAVLE Scheduling and Admission Permit, we recommend contacting Prometric as soon as possible to schedule your examination appointment(s) using the phone number provided in Section 1 of the permit. If you require accommodations, or need to reschedule an appointment with accommodations, scheduling should be completed by phone and not done through the Prometric ProScheduler. After scheduling or rescheduling, be sure to record your confirmation number for future reference. ICVA cannot retrieve this number for you.

Please note that if your accommodations require two-day testing, your testing dates are not required to be scheduled on consecutive days. You will need to select a second test date within the allotted 14-day testing period. You may also choose a different testing center for the second day of testing.

You can still test under standard conditions, or withdraw, but keep in mind that the ICVA policy is that there are no exceptions, extensions, transfers, or refunds.

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

Non-Standard Testing Conditions cover temporary medical circumstances — recovering from surgery, an injury, lactation needs, etc. — rather than a documented disability. You'll submit a completed Non-Standard Testing Conditions Request Form plus a typewritten, signed letter from a qualified professional (translated into English if needed, at your expense) no later than 14 days before your testing window starts. Approval is valid for one year only, so you'll need to reapply if you need the same non-standard testing conditions for a later attempt.

Yes. Candidates planning to obtain a license to practice veterinary medicine in Canada must request NAVLE accommodations through the National Examining Board (NEB) rather than through ICVA's standard U.S./territory process. Direct Canada-specific questions to NEB at neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org.

Yes, for U.S. licensing boards — once approved, your accommodation applies to all of your future NAVLE attempts. Canadian candidates must reapply through the National Examining Board (NEB) each time. Non-Standard Testing Conditions approvals, by contrast, only last one year and must be renewed even for U.S.-board candidates. Please note, you still need to mark on your NAVLE application that you are requesting accommodations, even if the accommodation was approved for a previous testing window.

360 multiple-choice questions across 12 blocks of 30, for a total testing time of 7 hours 36 minutes (33 minutes per block) plus up to 50 minutes of total break time and an optional 10-minute tutorial. Roughly 15–20% of items include graphics, with on-screen zoom, pan, and contrast tools plus an on-screen calculator available. You can skip and flag questions within a block, but not after you submit that block. The exam is offered in English and French only.

Authorized breaks are allowed during the exam between testing blocks. This includes any time you spend between these blocks, whether you're staying in your seat or have left the room. If you complete the tutorial or testing blocks early, any remaining minutes will be added to your total break time. If you go over the allotted or accumulated break time, the extra time will be subtracted from your overall testing time. Unauthorized breaks are when you take a break during a testing block, requiring the proctor to file an incident report to share with the ICVA. Please keep in mind the clock does not stop during unauthorized breaks and test time is lost. Additionally, it could be investigated as a potential exam security violation.

During each testing block, you may skip questions or mark them for review. Before submitting the block, you can revisit your answers and make changes. Once you submit the block—or the block time expires—your answers are final, and you cannot return to those questions.

The NAVLE is a requirement for licensure to practice veterinary medicine in the United States and Canada. The assessment is written and administered in English and French to ensure it aligns with the official language requirements outlined by United States licensing boards and Canadian regulatory bodies.

ICVA's Competencies document organizes the exam into four domains: Clinical Practice; Communications; Professionalism, Practice Management, and Wellness; and Preventive Medicine and Animal Welfare, each broken into specific, concrete competency statements (tasks you must be able to perform, not just topics to recognize). Pair it with the Species and Diagnoses document, which lists 13 species categories — canine, feline, equine, bovine, porcine, ovine/caprine, camelid/cervidae, poultry, pet birds, reptiles, aquatics, small mammals, and non-species-specific content — with example diagnoses organized by organ system within each. Canine and feline content together make up roughly half the exam, with equine and bovine adding another quarter or so; the remaining species make up a smaller but still meaningful share, so make sure to review them.

No — both are described as guides, not exhaustive lists. ICVA is explicit that actual exam items may include conditions or tasks not specifically named in either document, so use them to prioritize and structure your review rather than treating them as a closed checklist.

Yes, there are free sample assessments available. There are 20 sample items available in the tutorial which provides an answer key and overview of the delivery software. There is also a set of 5 additional sample questions available on the ICVA website.

Beginning with the October–November 2026 testing window, the NAVLE will use shorter blocks and offer more frequent break opportunities. The exam will contain 360 multiple-choice questions in 12 blocks of 30, with 7 hours and 36 minutes of testing time (33 minutes per block), up to 50 minutes for breaks, and an optional 10-minute tutorial. In December 2025, ICVA also announced an independent third-party audit of the NAVLE’s fairness and integrity, with periodic progress updates. Before testing, review the News and Updates page and the current Candidate Handbook, as the format may change between cycles.

No, the NAVLE is not available online. Our test delivery vendor, Prometric, administers the NAVLE via test centers only. The exam is 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. For more information on the NAVLE, please review the NAVLE Candidate Handbook.

You can schedule your exam appointment once your Candidate Dashboard shows that your status is approved and your NAVLE Scheduling and Admission Permit has been issued. The permit will be emailed by NBME and will include instructions for scheduling your exam appointment.

The processing of your NAVLE Scheduling and Admission Permit can begin only after your verification documentation has been received and your application approved. Permit delivery timing varies and can take at least 4 weeks after approval for the test (and for accommodations, if applicable). In the meantime, you can monitor your NAVLE status via the NAVLE Candidate Dashboard.

Check your spam or junk folder for the communication. If you can’t find the email, contact our exam vendor at support@nbme.org. Important: Do not contact the NBME team if your NAVLE Scheduling and Admission Permit has not yet been issued, as they cannot assist candidates without a permit.

Please note that application deadlines are not related to when you'll receive the NAVLE Scheduling and Admission Permit or when you'll be able to set your test appointment with Prometric. You may receive your permit or schedule your exam appointment after the application deadline date. Permit delivery timing varies and can take at least 4 weeks after approval for the test (and for accommodations, if applicable). In the meantime, you can monitor your NAVLE status via the NAVLE Candidate Dashboard.

Once you receive your Scheduling and Admission Permit, we recommend contacting Prometric as soon as possible to schedule your examination appointment using the ProScheduler online system or the phone number provided in Section 1 of the permit. After scheduling, be sure to record your confirmation number for future reference. ICVA cannot retrieve this number for you.

ICVA cannot retrieve this number for you. You can locate your confirmation number by using the website link provided in Section 1 of your NAVLE Scheduling and Admission Permit. If you need further help with your permit, please contact support@nbme.org.

It is recommended that you contact Prometric as soon as possible to reschedule your examination appointment – within the testing window – using the ProScheduler online system or the phone number provided in Section 1 of the permit.  You will need to use the confirmation number Prometric provided when you made your initial testing appointment. To avoid Prometric fees, you should complete the rescheduling process at least two business days before your scheduled appointment. After rescheduling, be sure to record your rescheduling confirmation number for future reference. ICVA cannot retrieve this number for you.

A current, government-issued photo ID with your signature — a driver's license, passport, national ID, or state ID. Electronic/digital versions of an ID are not accepted. Bring the ID along with your NAVLE Scheduling and Admission Permit. Please be sure to bring these items with you. If you start the check-in process without these two requirements, you will not be admitted to the test and will be required to satisfy the Prometric Rescheduling Fee before rescheduling the exam within your eligibility period.

No guests are allowed at the test center at all. In the room itself: no bags, backpacks, or purses; no watches (analog or digital); no phones or other electronics; no personal calculators (an on-screen calculator is provided); no study materials; no outerwear or brimmed hats; and no food or drink except water in a clear, transparent bottle that will be inspected by staff. Personal items must be stored in a locker before you enter.

Report it to Prometric at the test center immediately, or through Prometric's website within 10 business days, and then file ICVA's online grievance form with the date, time, location, and details. See the Scoring, Retakes & Grievances section for the full grievance process.

Prometric will reschedule you at no cost within the same testing window, potentially at a different location, if the closure is due to severe weather, disaster, or a technical failure outside your control.

All candidates must adhere to the Testing Conditions and the NAVLE Candidate Agreement available in the NAVLE Candidate Handbook. Take the time to review and understand which behaviors are considered unacceptable during the exam by familiarizing yourself with the NAVLE Candidate Handbook and the Prometric test center policies, procedures, and FAQs to ensure you are aware of what is expected of you while on site. It is essential that you adhere to all policies, procedures, and rules of conduct outlined within the exam. Failing to do so may result in the cancellation of your exam, revocation of your certification, potential legal action, and a report to the relevant veterinary medicine board(s), potentially jeopardizing your chances for licensure.

A late cancellation or no-show triggers a nonrefundable Prometric Rescheduling Fee or Reinstatement Fee, charged directly by Prometric rather than by ICVA. You can contact Prometric via the ProScheduler or reach out to a Prometric representative using the contact details on your Scheduling and Admission Permit.

Cancelling your registration or exam appointment before your exam date means that testing window will not count against your available exam attempts. It is important to note that the exam tutorial marks the start of the exam attempt, even if you do not complete it.

The NAVLE Self-Assessment is a purchasable, web-based practice tool built from retired NAVLE items, following the same content blueprint as the real exam but shorter. It gives you an immediate score report with a projected NAVLE score range and a performance breakdown by content area. A good result is a strong signal, not a guarantee — it's most predictive when taken under standard-paced timing, in one sitting, close to your actual NAVLE date.

No, they're separate. You register for the NAVLE Self-Assessment through its own ordering process, independent of your NAVLE application / Candidate Dashboard login. Activation emails come from selfassess@icva.net — check your spam folder if you don't see one after ordering.

Order at least 7 days before your desired start date — anything closer isn't guaranteed to deliver on time. Once it launches, you have 30 days to complete it, with the ability to pause and resume between sections (a submitted block, however, cannot be revisited).

You can take any form of the NAVLE self-assessment as many times as you choose. Please keep in mind once you complete a NAVLE Self-Assessment, you will need to satisfy the fee to take the assessment again.

The NAVLE Self-Assessment score may be predictive but does not guarantee passing the NAVLE. The NAVLE Self-Assessments helps identify strengths and weaknesses, guides study strategies, and can also serve as a potential predictor of your NAVLE score if taken under standard timing conditions, in a single sitting and within a few days of the NAVLE.

Yes — faculty and staff can use a separate voucher order form for class-wide bulk orders, rather than each student ordering individually. See the companion ICVA Partner FAQ for details available for school staff.

The NAVLE Self-Assessment is built from retired NAVLE items, following the same content blueprint as the real exam but shorter: 200 questions in 4 blocks of 50 (versus 360 in 12 blocks on the real NAVLE).

Four English forms (Forms 1, 2, 3 and 4) and three French forms (Forms 1, 2 and 4). Regular forms (English/French Form 1, and English Form 3) cost $50 and give you a projected score range plus a content-area performance breakdown. Expanded feedback forms (English/French Forms 2 and 4) cost $65 and additionally show you the correct answers for any questions you missed. Each form exists in only one version — retaking the same form repeats the same content.

Standard-Paced gives you 55 minutes per 50-question block (220 minutes total) and roughly mirrors real NAVLE pacing — this is the mode that's been validated as predictive of your likely NAVLE score. Self-Paced gives you double the time (110 minutes per block, 440 minutes total) and is intended for candidates who need, or are considering seeking, extended-time accommodations on the real exam.

Once you complete a block – or the entire NAVLE Self-Assessment – it locks, and you will no longer have access to review questions and change answers. If the time limit expires before you finish answering questions in a block, the section will close and you will not have access to the remaining questions.

After completing the NAVLE Self-Assessment, you will receive an immediate score report with a projected score range plus a content-area performance breakdown. Expanded Feedback forms additionally show you the correct answers for any questions you missed.

You can access your score report indefinitely from your NAVLE Self-Assessment account.

The NAVLE Self-Assessment score may be predictive but does not guarantee passing the NAVLE. The NAVLE Self-Assessments helps identify strengths and weaknesses, guides study strategies, and can also serve as a potential predictor of your NAVLE score if taken under standard timing conditions in a single sitting and within a few days of the NAVLE.

These exams (Companion Animal Medicine or Equine Medicine) are available only through state or territorial licensing boards — individual candidates cannot order one directly. If your board requires one as part of your licensure process, your board coordinates scheduling and access with ICVA.

Boards may use these exams as part of a disciplinary proceeding, to evaluate the competency of a veterinarian already licensed elsewhere who is seeking licensure in a new jurisdiction, or for other licensure-related determinations at the board's discretion. The scope of the examination is narrower than the NAVLE, focusing specifically on companion animal or equine medicine.

Each exam is 100 multiple-choice questions (two forms available per exam type), delivered on a secure web-based platform and proctored either in person at your licensing agency's office or remotely via video software. The fee is $400 per exam form. Before your board schedules a date, check the blockout date calendar to confirm the date you want isn't grayed out as unavailable.

The Species Specific Exam content was last revised in summer 2019. If you have questions about content currency or the recommended passing standard, ask your licensing board or contact ICVA directly.

After you complete the exam, ICVA sends the score to the licensing board, which then shares it with you.

The VEA (previously known as the Qualifying Examination) is a 240-item exam covering foundational basic sciences — anatomy (22%), physiology (23%), pharmacology (14%), microbiology (20%), and pathology (21%) — typically given mid-curriculum rather than at graduation. It's designed for veterinary schools to benchmark their students' grasp of the basics and track trends against peer institutions. Research has found the VEA to be the strongest available predictor of a student's eventual NAVLE performance, so many schools use it partly as an early-warning tool for at-risk students.

Generally, no — the VEA is administered by veterinary schools to their own student cohorts, not purchased individually the way the NAVLE Self-Assessment is. If you're a student wondering whether or when your school offers it, check with your academic affairs office.

240 multiple-choice items in two blocks of 120, 132 minutes per block, with an optional 45-minute break between blocks. Of the 240 items, 200 count toward your score and 40 are unscored pretest items being evaluated for potential use in future exams. It's proctored, either on school/student computers in person or, depending on your school's setup, virtually.

Yes, the ICVA offers 60 sample questions for the VEA.

After completing the VEA, your score report will be shared with your school. They are responsible for communicating individual candidate results.

The VEA assesses foundational knowledge essential for clinical practice. Research has found the VEA to be the strongest available predictor of a student's eventual NAVLE performance, so many schools use it partly as an early-warning tool for at-risk students. However, there are no guarantees that performing well on the VEA will automatically mean a candidate will pass the NAVLE.

It's required of all applicants for a Wisconsin veterinary license, per Wisconsin rule VE 1.14(2), covering state statutes and administrative code relevant to veterinary practice. The cost of the exam is $50. If you're not yet licensed anywhere, contact ICVA directly at wisconsin@icva.net to get started. If you're already licensed in another state, you must first get approval from the Wisconsin Veterinary Examining Board (608.224.4353 or datcpveb@wisconsin.gov) before ICVA will register you for the exam.

Yes — you may reference the Wisconsin Statutes 89 and Administrative Code while testing, and you can log in and out as needed. You have a 30-day window from when your eligibility starts to complete it.

Your score is available immediately upon completion and is automatically reported to the Wisconsin Board — no separate score transfer step is needed. If you registered but haven't received your access email, check your spam/junk folder first, then contact wisconsin@icva.net.