Massachusetts Veterinarian — Requirements & Free Practice
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Licenses, application pathways and examination requirements
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Institutional License
School-held veterinary institutional license; individually approved veterinarians may practice only in conjunction with full-time employment by the licensed school.
Licensing authority: Massachusetts Board of Registration in Veterinary Medicine · Application information
Veterinarian approval to practice under an institutional license
- Application
- The Board FAQ identifies Tufts Cummings School as the current institutional license holder and directs applicants to Tufts.
- Education
- Graduate of a veterinary school or college accredited or approved in any state or country; the Board reviews credentials and must otherwise approve the applicant.
- Employment
- Full-time employment by the institution; veterinary practice must be in conjunction with that employment.
- Registration
- The Board registers the approved practitioner on its public record and notifies the school; the school submits its practitioner list annually.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-29.
- mgl-112-56d.html
Section 56D, veterinarian approval and public registration
- mgl-112-56d.html
Section 56D, institutional license issuance and renewal
- faqs.html
Tufts institutional license: full-time practice and current school
Institutional license issuance to a veterinary school
- Fee
- Pay the statutory institutional-license fee.
- Records
- The Board must determine that statutory and regulatory recording and reporting requirements are met.
- School
- A veterinary school located in Massachusetts.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-29.
- mgl-112-56d.html
Section 56D, institutional license issuance and renewal
Annual institutional license renewal
- Records
- Maintain Board-approved recording and reporting compliance and submit annually the list of practitioners and proposed practitioners.
- Renewal
- Renew yearly and pay the annual institutional-license fee.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-29.
- mgl-112-56d.html
Section 56D, institutional license issuance and renewal
Veterinary Medicine License
License to practice veterinary medicine in Massachusetts without limitation or supervision.
Licensing authority: Massachusetts Board of Registration in Veterinary Medicine · Application information
Initial licensure: approved veterinary school graduate
- Age
- M.G.L. c.112 §55 requires the applicant to be at least eighteen.
- Application
- Application and fee; signed and notarized CORI acknowledgment, two professional and ethical references, passport-style photograph, transcript showing degree conferral, applicable disciplinary or court records and explanation.
- Character
- Good moral character; the Board may refuse licensure for the statutory conviction or fitness grounds.
- Education
- Graduate of an AVMA-approved veterinary school. The statutory dean-letter option permits examination within 210 days before graduation; no license issues until graduation is proved.
- Oral or interview
- 256 CMR 3.01(4) permits a Board oral examination or interview at its discretion; the sources identify no independently named currently offered examination for that slot.
- Score verification
- Have AAVSB transmit the NAVLE score to the Board.
Initial licensure: international veterinary graduate
- Age
- M.G.L. c.112 §55 requires the applicant to be at least eighteen.
- Application
- Application and fee; signed and notarized CORI acknowledgment, two professional and ethical references, passport-style photograph, transcript showing degree conferral, applicable disciplinary or court records and explanation.
- Certification examinations
- The state sources require ECFVG or PAVE certification but name no individual examination within those programs; the certificate and its completion requirements are applicant conditions.
- Character
- Good moral character; the Board may refuse licensure for the statutory conviction or fitness grounds.
- Education
- Non-approved veterinary-school graduate with a Board-approved international veterinary graduate certificate; complete either ECFVG or PAVE and furnish proof.
- Oral or interview
- 256 CMR 3.01(4) permits a Board oral examination or interview at its discretion; the sources identify no independently named currently offered examination for that slot.
- Score verification
- Have AAVSB transmit the NAVLE score to the Board.
- Transcript translation
- Original foreign transcripts and an official notarized English translation if instruction was not in English.
Reinstatement after more than three inactive cycles
- Affidavit
- State the circumstances of inactivity and reasons for reactivation.
- Competency slot
- Pass a clinical competency examination if the Board requests it; the rule identifies no particular currently offered registered examination.
- Continuing education
- Complete outstanding continuing education for the three cycles before reinstatement.
- Fees
- Pay outstanding annual fees.
- Inactive period
- More than three inactive cycles.
- Interview
- Appear before the Board if requested; the inactive-license policy requires an interview subject to extraordinary-hardship waiver.
Reactivation after fewer than three inactive cycles
- Continuing education
- Complete outstanding continuing education for every inactive year.
- Fees
- Pay outstanding annual license fees for the inactive period.
- Inactive period
- Fewer than three inactive cycles.
- Interview
- Board policy requires an interview unless the Board grants an extraordinary-hardship waiver.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-29.
- 256-cmr-3.pdf
256 CMR 3.05(1), fewer than three inactive cycles
- board-policies.html
Policy 05-02, interview for inactive-license renewal
Annual license renewal
- Continuing education
- Complete at least 15 continuing-education units in the prior calendar year, with not more than six noninteractive hours; document compliance.
- Fee
- Pay the annual renewal fee before March 1.
- First year
- The Board policy exempts new licensees for the first license period, except licenses obtained through reciprocity.
- Waiver
- The Board may waive or extend continuing education for health, disability, out-of-state military service or undue hardship upon written request.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-29.
- mgl-112-55.html
Section 55, annual renewal and continuing education
- 256-cmr-9.pdf
256 CMR 9.01(1), renewal requirements
Return after notified retirement or removal, not exceeding five years
- Affidavit
- File an affidavit establishing the statutory facts.
- Eligibility
- Previously licensed in Massachusetts, license not revoked, notified the Board of temporary retirement or removal, and absence not exceeding five years.
- Fees
- Pay lapsed annual fees.
- Lower rule demand
- 256 CMR 3.05(2) states a jurisprudence requirement when inactivity exceeds three cycles: (2) Where a license has been inactive for more than three cycles, a license may be made active by: (a) paying the outstanding annual license fees from the inactive period; (b) filing with the Board an affidavit containing the circumstances of the inactive period and the reasons for requesting activation of the license; (c) obtaining a passing grade in a clinical competency examination, if so requested by the Board; (d) obtaining a passing grade on the Massachusetts Jurisprudence Examination; (e) appearing before the Board for an interview, if so requested by the Board; and (f) completing outstanding continuing education requirements for the three cycles preceding the application for reinstatement. Section 55’s specific return pathway supplies the controlling requirements for applicants satisfying its retirement/removal conditions.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-29.
- mgl-112-55.html
Section 55, notified temporary retirement or removal not exceeding five years
Board reissue after revocation or cancellation
- Board discretion
- The Board may reissue the certificate and register the veterinarian anew; the statutory reissue provision names no examination requirement.
- Waiting period
- At least one year after revocation or cancellation before discretionary reissue.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-29.
- mgl-112-55.html
Section 55, reissue following revocation after one year
Licensure by reciprocity
- Application
- Complete all application materials; the FAQ and application page waive transcripts for qualifying reciprocal applicants; arrange AAVSB/VIVA score transmission.
- Discretion
- 256 CMR 3.03 permits an oral examination and/or interview at Board discretion.
- Other license
- License or registration in another state, with certified current and prior licensing histories; the Board must regard its standards as equivalent.
- Practical slot
- M.G.L. c.112 §56C provides a Board practical examination without examination on veterinary theory. It does not identify a separately named registered examination; this slot is an applicant condition.
- Practice
- M.G.L. c.112 §56C requires five consecutive years of veterinary practice, intention to move to and reside in Massachusetts, and reciprocal privileges. The Board FAQ describes candidates licensed elsewhere for more than five years.
- Pre 1992 scores
- The Board FAQ accepts prior NBE or CCT passage for applicants licensed before 1992, with a Massachusetts score of 75; these replaced examinations supply prior evidence only.
- Prior passing score
- 256 CMR 3.03(2) applies the passing standard required when the applicant was licensed in the other state. This is a score condition; prior passage of current NAVLE remains a leaf.
Limited practitioner seeking full licensure
- Age
- M.G.L. c.112 §55 requires the applicant to be at least eighteen.
- Application
- Application and fee; signed and notarized CORI acknowledgment, two professional and ethical references, passport-style photograph, transcript showing degree conferral, applicable disciplinary or court records and explanation.
- Character
- Good moral character; the Board may refuse licensure for the statutory conviction or fitness grounds.
- Existing status
- Previously granted specialist waiver; meet all 256 CMR 3.00 full-licensure requirements before practicing beyond the restricted specialty.
- Oral or interview
- 256 CMR 3.01(4) permits a Board oral examination or interview at its discretion; the sources identify no independently named currently offered examination for that slot.
- Score verification
- Have AAVSB transmit the NAVLE score to the Board.
Veterinary Medicine–Limited Practitioner
Veterinary license restricted by the Board to the certified specialty when an examination or international-graduate certificate waiver is granted.
Licensing authority: Massachusetts Board of Registration in Veterinary Medicine · Application information
Reinstatement after more than three inactive cycles
- Affidavit
- State the circumstances of inactivity and reasons for reactivation.
- Competency slot
- Pass a clinical competency examination if the Board requests it; the rule identifies no particular currently offered registered examination.
- Continuing education
- Complete outstanding continuing education for the three cycles before reinstatement.
- Fees
- Pay outstanding annual fees.
- Inactive period
- More than three inactive cycles.
- Interview
- Appear before the Board if requested; the inactive-license policy requires an interview subject to extraordinary-hardship waiver.
Reactivation after fewer than three inactive cycles
- Continuing education
- Complete outstanding continuing education for every inactive year.
- Fees
- Pay outstanding annual license fees for the inactive period.
- Inactive period
- Fewer than three inactive cycles.
- Interview
- Board policy requires an interview unless the Board grants an extraordinary-hardship waiver.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-29.
- 256-cmr-3.pdf
256 CMR 3.05(1), fewer than three inactive cycles
- board-policies.html
Policy 05-02, interview for inactive-license renewal
Limited practitioner: certified veterinary specialist
- Change reporting
- Notify the Board of any change in specialty certification status.
- Former scores
- The Board FAQ accepts prior NBE or CCT passage for applicants licensed before 1992, with a Massachusetts score of 75; these replaced examinations supply prior evidence only.
- Other state
- This waiver is stated within 256 CMR 3.03 reciprocity; supply the applicable current licensing history.
- References
- Complete the application and professional references; the Board may require an interview.
- Specialty
- Current AVMA-recognized specialty-board certification; provide specialty certificate and current resume or CV.
- Waiver
- The Board may waive the veterinary licensing examination or international veterinary graduate certificate and restrict practice to the specialty. NAVLE is retained as the current examination implicated by the waiver; jurisprudence remains required.
Annual license renewal
- Continuing education
- Complete at least 15 continuing-education units in the prior calendar year, with not more than six noninteractive hours; document compliance.
- Fee
- Pay the annual renewal fee before March 1.
- First year
- The Board policy exempts new licensees for the first license period, except licenses obtained through reciprocity.
- Specialty restriction
- Any specialty restriction and certification-status reporting obligations continue.
- Waiver
- The Board may waive or extend continuing education for health, disability, out-of-state military service or undue hardship upon written request.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-29.
- mgl-112-55.html
Section 55, annual renewal and continuing education
- 256-cmr-9.pdf
256 CMR 9.01(1), renewal requirements
Return after notified retirement or removal, not exceeding five years
- Affidavit
- File an affidavit establishing the statutory facts.
- Eligibility
- Previously licensed in Massachusetts, license not revoked, notified the Board of temporary retirement or removal, and absence not exceeding five years.
- Fees
- Pay lapsed annual fees.
- Lower rule demand
- 256 CMR 3.05(2) states a jurisprudence requirement when inactivity exceeds three cycles: (2) Where a license has been inactive for more than three cycles, a license may be made active by: (a) paying the outstanding annual license fees from the inactive period; (b) filing with the Board an affidavit containing the circumstances of the inactive period and the reasons for requesting activation of the license; (c) obtaining a passing grade in a clinical competency examination, if so requested by the Board; (d) obtaining a passing grade on the Massachusetts Jurisprudence Examination; (e) appearing before the Board for an interview, if so requested by the Board; and (f) completing outstanding continuing education requirements for the three cycles preceding the application for reinstatement. Section 55’s specific return pathway supplies the controlling requirements for applicants satisfying its retirement/removal conditions.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-29.
- mgl-112-55.html
Section 55, notified temporary retirement or removal not exceeding five years
Board reissue after revocation or cancellation
- Board discretion
- The Board may reissue the certificate and register the veterinarian anew; the statutory reissue provision names no examination requirement.
- Waiting period
- At least one year after revocation or cancellation before discretionary reissue.
Official no-examination sources
Effective from 2026-09-29.
- mgl-112-55.html
Section 55, reissue following revocation after one year
Temporary Permit to Practice Veterinary Medicine
Six-month supervised permit, renewable once, with a maximum total term of twelve months.
Licensing authority: Massachusetts Board of Registration in Veterinary Medicine · Application information
Temporary permit: approved school graduate
- Application
- Joint application and Board interview with supervisor; six-month permit and no unsupervised practice before proof of full licensure.
- Board page conflict
- temporary-permits.html states: Per 256 CMR 4.00, only graduates of non-AVMA accredited veterinary schools are eligible to be granted a temporary permit by the Board. The statute and 256 CMR 4.01(2) expressly contemplate approved-school graduates; this lower-ranked page restriction is presented as the Board’s stated demand.
- Education
- Graduate of an approved veterinary school; 256 CMR 4.01(2) disqualifies approved-school graduates who have not achieved a Board-approved veterinary examination passing score.
- Statutory next examination
- M.G.L. c.112 §56A permits issuance without examination but requires the next set of examinations; that permission does not forbid the Board from setting eligibility requirements.
- Supervision
- Employed by and practicing under direct supervision and control of a Massachusetts licensed veterinarian; supervisor has at least four years of licensure and Board-determined good standing.
Temporary permit: international graduate completing certification
- Application
- Separate temporary-permit application and joint Board interview with the supervising veterinarian.
- Education
- Non-AVMA-accredited veterinary-school graduate within six months of completing ECFVG or PAVE.
- Employment change
- Stop practice and notify the Board if employment changes; a new joint application and interview precede any transfer of remaining permit time.
- Graduate examination
- The rules require subsequent passage of a Board-approved international veterinary graduate examination and permit rescission for nonpassage; no individual currently offered examination is named for that slot.
- Supervision
- Direct supervision and control by a Massachusetts veterinarian licensed for at least four years and in Board-determined good standing.
- Term
- Six months; total term including an extension cannot exceed twelve months.
Massachusetts Board of Registration in Veterinary Medicine’s Jurisprudence Examination
- Provider
- Massachusetts Board of Registration in Veterinary Medicine
- Format
- Open-book multiple-choice examination submitted with the application
- Exam questions
- 20
- Passing score
- Pass/fail
Examination outline
- M.G.L. c. 112, §§ 54–60: Veterinary Medicine
- 256 CMR 2.00: GENERAL PROVISIONS
- 256 CMR 3.00: LICENSES
- 256 CMR 4.00: TEMPORARY PERMITS
- 256 CMR 5.00: PRACTICE
- 256 CMR 7.00: CODE OF PROFESSIONAL CONDUCT
- 256 CMR 9.00: CONTINUING EDUCATION
- 256 CMR 10.00: LIMITED LIABILITY CORPORATIONS AND LIMITED LIABILITY PARTNERSHIPS
- Acts of 2024, Chapter 345: AN ACT PROHIBITING INHUMANE FELINE DECLAWING
Examination sources
- jurisprudence-form-embedded.html
Examination introduction: designated statutes and regulations
- statutes-regulations.html
Rules and regulations governing veterinarians: complete current Board-rule listing
- 256-cmr-5.pdf
256 CMR 5.06(6), veterinary-law completeness through Section 60
- acts-2024-chapter-345.html
Section 2, inserted G.L. c. 140 §174H(c)(1): veterinarian records
- jurisprudence-form-embedded.html
Examination introduction: owner, name and format
- faqs.html
What is the Board Jurisprudence Examination: scoring
- faqs.html
What is the Board Jurisprudence Examination: all applicants and format
- jurisprudence-form.html
Examination submission and scoring instructions
North American Veterinary Licensing Examination
- Provider
- International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA); delivered at Prometric testing centers
- Format
- Computer-based multiple-choice examination; each question presents a clinical scenario or vignette followed by a question requiring one answer from a list of response options; about 15-20% include graphics such as photos or radiographs. Beginning with the October-November 2026 NAVLE the test is divided into twelve blocks of 30 questions each.
- Exam questions
- 360 multiple-choice questions
- Time limit
- Around seven and a half (7.5) hours
- Passing score
- Score report gives a pass or fail designation and a three-digit scaled score
- Exam fee
- $825 (USD) standard NAVLE fee; $1,220 (USD) international NAVLE fee (standard fee + international fee of $395)
Examination outline
Clinical Practice (competency domain; target blueprint 70%) (70%)
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Create or update medical records
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Develop a differential diagnosis
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Formulate a diagnostic plan
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Formulate possible differential diagnoses
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Interpret cytologic specimens
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Interpret diagnostic images (e.g., ECG, endoscopy, ultrasound, x-ray)
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Interpret findings from laboratory tests (e.g., urine, blood, tissue)
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Interpret findings from physical examination
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Interpret findings from postmortem specimen
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Interpret principles of pathophysiology and mechanism of action
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Interpret results of system-specific examination (e.g., ophthalmic, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, dental)
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Investigate possible exposure of companion animal to toxin
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Investigate possible exposure of food or game animal to toxin
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Observe or interpret an animal’s mental status and other aspects of behavior
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Obtain animal health history from client
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Obtain diagnostic images (e.g., ultrasound, x-ray)
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Obtain specimens or samples for laboratory studies (e.g., urine, blood, tissue)
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Perform general physical examination
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Perform postmortem examination to determine cause of death
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Perform standard diagnostic tests on samples (e.g., urine, blood, tissue)
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Perform system-specific examination (e.g., ophthalmic, cardiovascular, musculoskeletal, dental)
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Prioritize need for diagnostic procedures considering available resources
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Read and interpret production records or farm-based computer reports to understand herd-level health parameters
- Data Gathering and Interpretation (target blueprint 35%) — Review animal medical records to determine health status
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Administer a biological or pharmacological agent other than anesthesia, including blood, vaccinations, drugs, and medications
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Administer general anesthesia
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Administer local anesthesia
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Apply a splint, cast or other stabilization device
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Care for wounds or surgical incisions (e.g., suture, dress)
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Determine prognosis
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Establish a rehabilitation plan
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Establish a treatment plan
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Evaluate a treatment outcome
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Formulate or evaluate a behavior modification plan
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Formulate patient/herd/population management and treatment plans (e.g., stall rest, medication, raising curtains in a pig barn, testing feed)
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Perform common therapeutic/surgical procedures (e.g., tissue biopsy, wound drainage)
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Perform major surgical procedures (e.g., abdominal, orthopedic)
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Prescribe a biological or pharmacological agent
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Refer clients to veterinary specialists for further diagnostic studies or treatment
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Synthesize multiple sources of diagnostic information, including local disease prevalence, to determine diagnosis
- Health Maintenance and Problem Management (listed in the target blueprint as 'Health Maintenance and Prevention', 35%) — Treat minor injuries or trauma (e.g., abrasions, lacerations, eye wounds)
Preventive Medicine and Animal Welfare (competency domain; target blueprint 15%) (15%)
- Animal Welfare Issues and Concerns (target blueprint 6%) — Certify that animals or animal products meet certain standards (e.g., living conditions, sanitation, health or disease status)
- Animal Welfare Issues and Concerns (target blueprint 6%) — Conduct or oversee an animal welfare audit
- Animal Welfare Issues and Concerns (target blueprint 6%) — Conduct periodic/annual examinations on client animals and discuss vaccination, deworming, diet, exercise, and other wellness considerations
- Animal Welfare Issues and Concerns (target blueprint 6%) — Explain to client the components of an animal welfare audit
- Animal Welfare Issues and Concerns (target blueprint 6%) — Identify and take action on animal welfare problems
- Animal Welfare Issues and Concerns (target blueprint 6%) — Verify that diseased or infected animals have been managed according to professional or governmental guidelines
- Animal Welfare Issues and Concerns (target blueprint 6%) — Work with community groups or regulatory bodies to address the ethical treatment, health, and welfare of animals
- Environmental Health and Safety (target blueprint 5%) — Apply isolation or quarantine and/or disinfection measures to own work environment as a means of disease prevention/control
- Environmental Health and Safety (target blueprint 5%) — Ensure proper disposal of biomedical waste
- Environmental Health and Safety (target blueprint 5%) — Evaluate animal environments to identify possible epidemiological problems and public health concerns
- Environmental Health and Safety (target blueprint 5%) — Inform client or community about effective methods for managing animal or human waste
- Environmental Health and Safety (target blueprint 5%) — Inspect practice environment (e.g., clinic, vehicle) to ensure that it is safe and accessible
- Environmental Health and Safety (target blueprint 5%) — Instruct client about methods to humanely terminate diseased animals and dispose of infected carcasses
- Environmental Health and Safety (target blueprint 5%) — Instruct staff, colleagues, or others about proper technique for disposal of biomedical waste
- Environmental Health and Safety (target blueprint 5%) — Monitor workplace to verify that it complies with hazardous materials requirements
- Veterinary Public Health (target blueprint 4%) — Apply isolation or quarantine procedures as a means of disease prevention and control
- Veterinary Public Health (target blueprint 4%) — Collaborate or consult with clients, health professionals, government agencies, or community groups on public health issues such as food safety and zoonotic disease
- Veterinary Public Health (target blueprint 4%) — Conduct a community education workshop on some topic related to animal or human health
- Veterinary Public Health (target blueprint 4%) — Consult with community stakeholders about animal population control
- Veterinary Public Health (target blueprint 4%) — Discuss animal care options with an immunocompromised owner
- Veterinary Public Health (target blueprint 4%) — Formulate a patient/herd management and/or treatment plan for public health and/or zoonotic disease cases or concerns
- Veterinary Public Health (target blueprint 4%) — Inform clients or community about prevention and treatment of zoonotic organism exposure
- Veterinary Public Health (target blueprint 4%) — Inspect food to ensure consumer safety
- Veterinary Public Health (target blueprint 4%) — Investigate a disease outbreak
- Veterinary Public Health (target blueprint 4%) — Participate in disease control or eradication program
- Veterinary Public Health (target blueprint 4%) — Participate in epidemiologic inquiry of a reportable disease by collecting, handling, or transporting specimens/samples
- Veterinary Public Health (target blueprint 4%) — Report a transboundary or zoonotic disease to state, regional, or national agency
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics (no separate subdomain percentage is published in the target blueprint) — Apply the fundamentals of epidemiology and/or biostatistics
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics (no separate subdomain percentage is published in the target blueprint) — Interpret biostatistical or epidemiologic principles or problems
- Veterinary Epidemiology and Biostatistics (no separate subdomain percentage is published in the target blueprint) — Investigate epidemiologic problems
Communications (competency domain; the target blueprint lists 'Communication' at 8%) (8%)
- Communications with Veterinary and Other Professionals (target blueprint 'Communication with Veterinary and other Professionals' 3%) — Build relationships with junior colleagues or new graduates
- Communications with Veterinary and Other Professionals (target blueprint 'Communication with Veterinary and other Professionals' 3%) — Consult with other veterinarians or veterinary specialists regarding animal care
- Communications with Veterinary and Other Professionals (target blueprint 'Communication with Veterinary and other Professionals' 3%) — Delegate delivery of veterinary care and services to associates or staff
- Communications with Veterinary and Other Professionals (target blueprint 'Communication with Veterinary and other Professionals' 3%) — Deliver verbal case summaries to other veterinarians or members of the health care team
- Communications with Veterinary and Other Professionals (target blueprint 'Communication with Veterinary and other Professionals' 3%) — Describe disaster preparedness plan to coworkers
- Communications with Veterinary and Other Professionals (target blueprint 'Communication with Veterinary and other Professionals' 3%) — Engage regulatory bodies to improve standards of practice or to address other professional issues
- Communications with Veterinary and Other Professionals (target blueprint 'Communication with Veterinary and other Professionals' 3%) — Explain results of research to non-veterinary health workers (e.g., staff, other agencies)
- Communications with Veterinary and Other Professionals (target blueprint 'Communication with Veterinary and other Professionals' 3%) — Guide the work of associates or other staff in the delivery of veterinary services
- Communications with Veterinary and Other Professionals (target blueprint 'Communication with Veterinary and other Professionals' 3%) — Mentor and supervise veterinary and veterinary technician students
- Communications with Veterinary and Other Professionals (target blueprint 'Communication with Veterinary and other Professionals' 3%) — Respond to unprofessional or unethical behavior in others
- Communications with Veterinary and Other Professionals (target blueprint 'Communication with Veterinary and other Professionals' 3%) — Train staff in animal health and care
- Communications with Veterinary and Other Professionals (target blueprint 'Communication with Veterinary and other Professionals' 3%) — Write a case summary for use by other veterinarians or members of the health care team
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Advise client on health maintenance for herd, flock or individual pet (e.g., husbandry, production management, public health, wellness exams)
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Advise client regarding appropriate and inappropriate pharmacy compounding
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Discuss euthanasia with client
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Discuss strategies with producer or client to reduce antibiotic resistance and/or antibiotic residues
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Discuss the limits of legal extra-label drug use with client
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Ensure that client understands the effects of prescribed pharmaceuticals, including chemotherapeutics (e.g., withdrawal time, side effects)
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Explain diagnosis and prognosis to clients using lay terminology
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Explain research results to client, describing its implications for animal care
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Help clients differentiate trustworthy from unreliable information (e.g., from Internet or advertisements) to support the care of their animals
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Inform client of bad news (e.g., animal terminal illness, show animal that can’t be bred)
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Instruct clients on how to obtain diagnostic information from an animal’s home environment (e.g., sleeping respiratory rate, stool or urine samples)
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Instruct clients on methods for isolating and quarantining diseased animals
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Negotiate payment plan with a client
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Obtain informed consent from client
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Provide instruction regarding food safety practices
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Provide verbal instructions to client regarding follow-up care (e.g., medications, wound care, environmental enrichment)
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Recommend management options to clients that are consistent with their cultural norms and personal values
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Refer client for grief counseling
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Talk with client to clarify concerns and expectations regarding type and level of care
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Teach client about preventive care (e.g., nutrition, behavior, dental, vaccines, parasites)
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Use appropriate communication techniques (e.g., open-ended inquiry, empathy)
- Communications with Clients (target blueprint 'Communication with Clients' 5%) — Write a summary of animal care instructions for a client
Professionalism, Practice Management, and Wellness (competency domain; target blueprint 'Professionalism, Practice Management and Wellness' 7%) (7%)
- Veterinary Practice Management (target blueprint 4%) — Apply appropriate animal restraint
- Veterinary Practice Management (target blueprint 4%) — Describe workings of benefit plan (e.g., retirement, health insurance) to staff
- Veterinary Practice Management (target blueprint 4%) — Develop a budget for own practice or employer
- Veterinary Practice Management (target blueprint 4%) — Develop standard operating procedures (e.g., procedures manual for practice or work environment)
- Veterinary Practice Management (target blueprint 4%) — Evaluate and purchase major medical equipment
- Veterinary Practice Management (target blueprint 4%) — Evaluate and purchase office/practice management software
- Veterinary Practice Management (target blueprint 4%) — Evaluate new medications, products, or treatment procedures to determine suitability for own practice
- Veterinary Practice Management (target blueprint 4%) — Negotiate work or practice arrangements (e.g., compensation, work schedule) with colleagues
- Veterinary Practice Management (target blueprint 4%) — Prepare or update employee handbook
- Veterinary Practice Management (target blueprint 4%) — Purchase expendable supplies (e.g., pharmaceuticals, dressing)
- Veterinary Practice Management (target blueprint 4%) — Review practice management data, including business and financial records
- Veterinary Practice Management (target blueprint 4%) — Supervise paraprofessional or technical support staff
- Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (target blueprint 'Professional Development and Life-Long Learning' 3%) — Attend a professional development seminar or workshop
- Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (target blueprint 'Professional Development and Life-Long Learning' 3%) — Attend training on emerging technologies in veterinary medicine
- Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (target blueprint 'Professional Development and Life-Long Learning' 3%) — Conduct oneself in a professional, ethical, and legal manner
- Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (target blueprint 'Professional Development and Life-Long Learning' 3%) — Consult reference materials (e.g., journals, online databases, other) to help formulate diagnosis or treatment options
- Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (target blueprint 'Professional Development and Life-Long Learning' 3%) — Encourage veterinarian and support staff wellness
- Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (target blueprint 'Professional Development and Life-Long Learning' 3%) — Exchange new scientific or technical information with other health professionals
- Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (target blueprint 'Professional Development and Life-Long Learning' 3%) — Give a talk at a professional meeting
- Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (target blueprint 'Professional Development and Life-Long Learning' 3%) — Participate in activities of local, national, or international professional association (e.g., state veterinarian association)
- Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (target blueprint 'Professional Development and Life-Long Learning' 3%) — Participate in online professional development activity
- Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (target blueprint 'Professional Development and Life-Long Learning' 3%) — Participate in or conduct an investigation to test a new procedure (e.g., diagnostic, nutritional, medication, surgical)
- Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (target blueprint 'Professional Development and Life-Long Learning' 3%) — Participate in professional development activities (e.g., continuing education, board certification)
- Professional Development and Lifelong Learning (target blueprint 'Professional Development and Life-Long Learning' 3%) — Read a journal article for professional development
Examination sources
- ICVA — NAVLE
NAVLE Subject Matter, Exam Blueprint
- ICVA — NAVLE
NAVLE Subject Matter, Competencies weighting
- ICVA — NAVLE Competency Domains
Cover page subtitle
- ICVA — NAVLE Species and Diagnoses
Page 2 introduction
- ICVA blog — ICVA’s 2026 NAVLE Practice Analysis
Phase III paragraph
- ICVA — NAVLE
Overview, third paragraph
- ICVA — NAVLE
NAVLE Score Reports, second paragraph
- ICVA — NAVLE Candidate Handbook
Exam Structure and Timing, first paragraph
- ICVA — NAVLE Candidate Handbook
Exam Structure and Timing, block structure
- ICVA — NAVLE
NAVLE Application Eligibility, first paragraph
- ICVA — NAVLE
Licensing Agency Application for Approval, first sentence
- ICVA — NAVLE Candidate Handbook
NAVLE Fees