Alternative Pathways to the Certificate of Qualification (CQ) for Graduates From Non-CMVA/AVMA Accredited Programs

After evaluating the variable needs of NEB candidates who have graduated from non CVMA/AVMA accredited veterinary schools, provincial licensing bodies and the NEB had agreed to establish the following alternative pathways to the CQ, which took effect on April 1st, 2020.

A Certificate of Qualification from the NEB provides eligibility for application for licensure with any or all provincial licensing bodies. However, the establishment of requirements and granting of a license are under the sole authority of the individual provincial licensing body.

Currently Available Pathways

As a reminder, the currently available pathways will remain unchanged and consist of:

The Regular NEB Process

  • Registration with NEB
  • NEB Credential assessment
  • BCSE
  • NAVLE
  • PSA/CPE

ECFVG Transfer to NEB

  • Registration with NEB
  • NEB Credential assessment
  • BCSE score transfer from ECFVG
  • CPE score transfer from ECFVG
  • NAVLE score transfer through AAVSB or completion of the exam through NEB

New Pathways

The new pathways consist of:

NEB + PAVE Option*

  • Registration with NEB
  • NEB Credential assessment
  • Successful completion of the PAVE through AAVSB (QSE + Evaluated Clinical Experience)
  • NAVLE (if not passed within three attempts the PSA/CPE must also be completed)

*only applicants that have successfully passed the QSE since September 2014 are eligible for this pathway. For candidates that completed the PAVE before 2014 please contact us.

NEB + Clinical Year Option**

  • Registration with NEB
  • NEB Credential assessment
  • BCSE
  • successful completion of the final (clinical year) in a CVMA/AVMA accredited program
  • NAVLE (if not passed within three attempts the PSA/CPE must also be completed)

**only applicants that have successfully passed the BCSE are eligible for the final (clinical year) in a CVMA/AVMA accredited program

For more information about the PAVE, please visit https://www.aavsb.org/PAVE/.

For the NEB + Clinical year option, potential candidates must make their own arrangements for the clinical year with one of the CVMA/AVMA-accredited veterinary schools.

The list of CVMA/AVMA-accredited programs is available at https://www.avma.org/education/accredited-veterinary-colleges.

The pathways are not interchangeable, and if a candidate wishes to proceed with the regular NEB pathway, they will need to take all required examinations.

Please Note:

Please note that any ECFVG Certificate obtained by doing the Clinical Year are not recognized by the NEB.

The NEB accepts an ECFVG Certificate only if it was awarded upon passing the CPE and NAVLE or equivalent.

A Certificate of Qualification from the NEB is a prerequisite to being able to apply for a license with any of the provincial licensing bodies. However, granting a license is under the authority of the licensing bodies and in some provinces applicants may have to pass an additional provincial jurisprudence examination to demonstrate knowledge of the legislation that governs the veterinary profession in that province.