State veterinary license (DVM)
Granted by state veterinary medical boards, not by a national exam alone. A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) from a college accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (graduates of other schools qualify through ECFVG or PAVE).
How to get licensed
A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) from a college accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (graduates of other schools qualify through ECFVG or PAVE).
- Bachelor's degree (usual) with the required science courses
- 4-year DVM at an AVMA COE-accredited college
- NAVLE (apply through the ICVA or your state board)
- The state's own exam on veterinary law, where requiredExam
- State license; a new license (and often new exams) for each state, because few states accept other states' licensesLicense
The exams
National bodies write the exams; the state board decides who is licensed. ICVA (International Council for Veterinary Assessment): administers the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE); issues no licenses; AVMA Council on Education (COE): accredits colleges of veterinary medicine; publishes the only official list; AAVSB (American Association of Veterinary State Boards): transfers scores to boards (VIVA) and runs the vet tech exam (VTNE).
- North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE)Required for licensure in all U.S. and Canadian licensing jurisdictions. About 7.5 hours, 360 multiple-choice clinical questions; from the October–November 2026 NAVLE, 12 blocks of 30 questions. Taken at Prometric centers in three testing windows a year.
ICVA
Get Ready for Exam Day (NAVLE)International Council for Veterinary Assessment- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- NAVLE fees and eligibility$825 in the U.S., its territories and Canada; $1,220 elsewhere. Open to students and graduates of AVMA COE-accredited colleges (in most U.S. states you must graduate within 10 months of the window) and to ECFVG or PAVE candidates.
ICVA
NAVLE Application ProcessInternational Council for Veterinary Assessment- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
- State exam on veterinary lawMost states require a state licensing exam on their laws and regulations in addition to the NAVLE.
BLS
Veterinarians — How to Become OneU.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (OOH)- Checked
- 21 Oct 2026
State rules and other states
Licensing requirements vary by state, but every state requires an accredited veterinary program and a qualifying exam. Few states accept licenses from other states, so veterinarians usually take exams for each state where they want a license.
What 3 state boards publish
| State | What the board asks for | Exam | Fee | Renewal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) | The online State Board Examination (SBE) is required for all license categories: approved applicants get a candidate ID, buy the exam and must finish it in one sitting within 10 days of purchase. TBVMEState Board Exam (SBE)Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
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| California Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) | Three exams: the NAVLE, the California State Board Examination and the Veterinary Law Examination (open book, 32 questions, within 40 days of applying; not needed for UC Davis or Western University graduates). Fees: $350 application, $100 VLE, $500 license. VMBVeterinary Law Examination (VLE)California Veterinary Medical Board
VMBExamination Schedule, Fees, and DeadlinesCalifornia Veterinary Medical Board
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| New York NYSED Office of the Professions | At least 21 and of good moral character; a DVM from an AVMA-accredited (or Department-approved) program; the NAVLE (no New York approval needed to take it). Licensure fee $372; a limited permit ($105) lets you work under a New York veterinarian before passing the exam. NYSEDLicense Requirements for VeterinarianNew York State Education Department, Office of the Professions
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Each row is copied from that board's own page and cites it. A dash means the board page we read did not state it. Other states have their own rules: check the board where you will work, or open the state pages.
Good to know
Not always required
- Veterinarians employed by state or federal government may not need a state license, because agencies differ in what they require (BLS).
Changes to watch
- From the October–November 2026 window the NAVLE is split into twelve 30-question blocks (ICVA).
- The AVMA COE expects at least 80% of each college's graduating seniors who sit the NAVLE to pass by graduation.