National and Wisconsin State Licensing Requirements

All veterinarians must successfully complete both national and state application requirements and exams in order to be licensed to practice veterinary medicine.

All 4^th year (senior) students in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, can take the North American Licensing Examination (NAVLE).  The exam is offered during a fall testing window usually in November/December, and also in the spring usually in April. There is a fee associated with this exam.

Under the International Council for Veterinary Assessment requirements, those eligible to apply for the NAVLE include:

• Graduates of schools accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
• Senior students at AVMA-accredited schools who have an expected graduation date no later than ten months from the last date of the applicable testing window, except for candidates applying through the California, Nebraska and New York state boards, which have an eight month graduation requirement.
• Graduates of schools not accredited by the AVMA who are enrolled in or hold certificates issued by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG), or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE).
  • Candidates who are enrolled in ECFVG or PAVE must have completed the Step 3 examination requirement of the respective certification program before they may be approved by a licensing board to take the NAVLE.
• Senior students at schools not accredited by the AVMA who are enrolled in the ECFVG or PAVE, who have an expected graduation date no later than ten months from the last date of the applicable testing window (except for candidates applying through the California, Nebraska, and New York state boards, which have an eight month graduation requirement), and have completed their program’s Step 3 examination.
• Some state/territorial licensing board NAVLE eligibility requirements differ, and to be approved to take the NAVLE through those boards, you must meet their requirements.

For complete information regarding the NAVLE, including testing dates, please visit:  https://www.icva.net/

4^th year (senior) students in the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, interested in obtaining licensure in Wisconsin, should not apply for their Wisconsin Veterinary Medicine License until after they have taken and passed both the NAVLE and Wisconsin State Exam. Both exams will be administered through the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA). If you were approved for the NAVLE through the Wisconsin board, ICVA will send you an email regarding this WI state exam information, and you will be invited to register and pay to take the exam. Visit the ICVA website for instructions.

For complete information on Wisconsin state licensing requirements for individuals seeking licensure to practice veterinary medicine by examination/endorsement, please visit the Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection-Veterinary Medicine License Application Page.

As part of the application requirements for licensure in the State of Wisconsin, all candidates must take and pass the Wisconsin Statutes and Rules Examination.  This online and ‘open book’ exam can be taken after ICVA invites applications to complete this exam. The exam content is drawn from applicable state statutes and administrative code chapters specific to the profession of veterinary medicine and which regulate the practice of the profession. A passing score is 88%. Testing windows for this exam take place two times per month, and it is recommended that you should allow up to 30 days for the state exam to process.