What is the NAVLE? A plain-English guide (and where the BCSE fits)
Updated 20 October 2026
If you have seen "NAVLE required" in a job advert or on a licensing page, here is what it means. The NAVLE (North American Veterinary Licensing Examination) is the exam that US state boards and Canadian provinces use to check that a veterinarian is ready to practise. If you qualified outside the accredited US and Canadian programmes, there is usually an exam you must pass before it: the BCSE.
What the NAVLE is
The NAVLE is a computer-based licensing exam run by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA). It tests clinical knowledge and decision-making across species. Passing it is one of the requirements for a veterinary licence in the United States and Canada.
The NAVLE format
For the 2026 to 2027 cycle the ICVA handbook is reported to describe the exam like this. Confirm the details at icva.net, because they are updated each cycle:
- 360 questions, each with one best answer.
- Scored on a scale of 200 to 800, with 425 reported as the ICVA passing score. Licensing boards may set their own standard.
- Taken at a test centre in fixed testing windows with application deadlines.
- The fee and retake rules are in our guides below.
Who has to take the NAVLE?
Anyone applying for a veterinary licence in a US state or Canadian province. Graduates of accredited schools usually take it as their licensing exam. In Canada, registration for the NAVLE goes through the National Examining Board (NEB).
Where the BCSE fits
If you graduated from a school outside the accredited US and Canadian programmes, you usually complete a recognition pathway first (the ECFVG in the United States or the NEB in Canada). The ECFVG candidates on that pathway must pass the BCSE before they are approved to take the NAVLE, as the current sources describe. So for many foreign-trained vets the BCSE is the first exam, and the NAVLE comes after it. Read the NAVLE for international graduates guide and what the BCSE is.
What to read next
- NAVLE dates for 2026 to 2027
- NAVLE fee for 2026 to 2027
- NAVLE passing score, format and retakes
- NAVLE vs BCSE
Frequently asked questions
What does NAVLE stand for?
It stands for the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination.
Who runs the NAVLE?
The International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) runs the NAVLE.
Is the NAVLE required for a vet job in the US?
Passing the NAVLE is one requirement for a veterinary licence, and employers normally expect you to be licensed or on the way to a licence. Check your state board for its exact rules.
Do I need the BCSE before the NAVLE?
If you are a foreign-trained vet on the ECFVG pathway, you must pass the BCSE before you are approved for the NAVLE, according to current sources. Graduates of accredited US and Canadian schools do not take the BCSE for this purpose.
Keep reading
- NAVLE for international veterinary graduates: the steps, and why the BCSE comes first
- Do you need the BCSE before the NAVLE?
- What is the BCSE? The Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination explained