How long does it take to get registered with the NEB and licensed in Canada?
Updated 20 October 2026
Vets often ask how long the NEB route takes from first registration to a licence. There is no official average, because the time depends on how quickly you pass each step. What is fixed is the order of the exams and a seven-year limit.
The steps for non-accredited graduates
- Register with the NEB, pay the fee and submit your documents.
- Pass the BCSE.
- Pass the NAVLE.
- Pass the PSA.
- Pass the CPE (a multi-day clinical skills exam).
- Receive the Certificate of Qualification, then apply for a licence with your provincial regulator.
The NAVLE can be taken before or after the PSA and CPE. Your province may add its own requirements.
The seven-year limit
A graduate of a non-accredited school must complete the BCSE, NAVLE, PSA and CPE within seven years of registering with the NEB. If the window runs out, you must register again. This is the one hard time limit in the process.
What decides your timeline
- Document review: the NEB must approve your file before you can test.
- BCSE: testing is continuous, but a fail brings a waiting period of about four months before the next attempt.
- NAVLE: offered in fixed testing windows with application deadlines, so a missed window can add months.
- CPE: seats are limited and need advance booking.
- Study time and work: most candidates study while working.
How to plan
Build backwards from your target date, and pass the BCSE with a margin so you are not forced into a retake. Our registration guide covers the first step and the study plans cover the BCSE itself.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to get licensed in Canada as a foreign vet?
There is no official average. It depends on how quickly you pass each exam. The NEB requires the four exams to be completed within seven years of registering.
What exams does the NEB require?
Graduates of non-accredited schools complete the BCSE, NAVLE, PSA and CPE. Graduates of accredited schools need only the NAVLE.
What happens after I pass all the NEB exams?
You receive a Certificate of Qualification, which lets you apply for a licence in any Canadian province.
Keep reading
- How to register for the BCSE: the ECFVG and NEB routes
- ECFVG vs NEB: which pathway should foreign-trained vets choose?
- NAVLE vs BCSE: what is the difference, and which exam do you need?