FAQs

NEB FAQs

Where to find the NEB application form and registration forms for the examinations.

Before You Register

Before registering for any of the examinations please make sure that you meet all eligibility requirements. All candidates (except students of Canadian veterinary schools), including overseas students from AVMA-accredited veterinary schools must send in a complete NEB application before being able to register for the NAVLE.

Links to Online Forms

  1. NEB registration: NEB Candidate Portal - Do not create a new profile on this portal if you have already received your NEB ID. Past candidates will slowly be migrated to this new database.
  2. Please note that BCSE registrations have been moved to the new NEB Candidate Portal. Do not create a new profile on this portal if you have already received your NEB ID starting with 208XXXX or lower. If you plan on registering for the BCSE and already are a current NEB candidate, please contact mchen@cvma-acmv.org for further instructions.
  3. NAVLE registrations are available in the NEB Candidate Portal during the registration windows.
  4. PSA registrations are available in the new NEB Candidate Portal.
  5. The Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE) registration is available in the new NEB Candidate Portal. If you plan to register to the CPE soon and do not have a profile on the new portal yet please contact us for more information.
  6. NEB Annual Renewal Fee Payment: the renewal fees are now exclusively collected in the new NEB Candidate Portal. If you need to renew your file and do not have a profile in the new portal yet, please contact us by email.
  7. CPE Summary Feedback Report Request Forms are available in the NEB Candidate Portal.
  8. NEB File Closure Requests are available in the NEB Candidate Portal.

This article describes the steps to take for US-veterinarians that want to get licensed in Canada.

Step-by-step Guide

If you graduated from an AVMA-accredited school:

  1. Register with the NEB and send in your supporting documentation.
  2. Transfer your board exam / NAVLE results to the NEB using AAVSBs Viva service. A passing NAVLE result will have to be obtained within three attempts (as of March 2022) or you will have to take the practical exams of the NEB (PSA & CPE).
  3. Once your application is complete and has been approved we will be able to issue your Certificate of Qualification that will allow you to apply for a license in any Canadian province. The contact information for the Canadian licensing bodies can be found here.

If you are licensed in the US but graduated from a foreign veterinary school listed by the AVMA.

  1. Register with the NEB and send in your supporting documentation.
  2. Transfer your board exam / NAVLE results to the NEB using AAVSBs Viva service and ask ECFVG to transfer your BCSE & CPE results to us.
  3. Once your application is complete and has been approved we will be able to issue your Certificate of Qualification that will allow you to apply for a license in any Canadian province. The contact information for the Canadian licensing bodies can be found here.

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.

This information is for candidates that just started the examination process and want to register for the NAVLE as soon as they have passed the BCSE.

The BCSE must be completed no later than 30 days (our recommendation is no later than 40 days) to date of NAVLE registration deadline.

Please Note:

Timing can be based on when we receive a batch of score from AVMA/Prometric. See BCSE Candidate Bulletin.

Reporting Test Results

Candidates will receive test results approximately 20 business days following their examination date. Test results will be released by the ECFVG Testing Coordinator to the candidate via ECFVG Online and e-mail. Due to privacy and security stipulations, test results will not be released via telephone, or facsimile. Any inquiries regarding test results should be directed to the ECFVG Testing Coordinator (800-248-2862, ext 6682). The ECFVG does not approve of the use of test results for any purpose other than that for which the examination is developed and conducted; namely, as one factor in assessing educational equivalency for purposes of ECFVG certification. BCSE results are not to be presented as evidence of eligibility for employment. In addition, BCSE results are not to be used by any individual or institution for the purpose of comparing the quality of educational programs.

For a veterinary school to be recognized by the CVMA, we require an official statement from the Ministry of Education, or other responsible government agency of the school's country, stating that the school is recognized by the national government as granting professional degrees in veterinary medicine, and that its graduates are eligible to practice veterinary medicine in that country. It should also provide the full address of the veterinary college, and the professional title and degree acronym that is conferred at the end of the professional veterinary degree program.

Upon receipt of such a statement in English, the CVMA will consider adding the school to the List of Veterinary Colleges of the World. To submit a request to add the school to the AVMA ECFVG-listed school directory, please follow the AVMA ECFVG policies and procedures which can be found at: https://www.avma.org/education/ecfvg/ecfvg-policies-and-procedures/ecfvg-policies-and-procedures-avma-listed-veterinary-colleges. The schools listed on the AVMA ECFVG®-listed school directory, and their curricula, are not reviewed, accredited, validated, endorsed, approved, accepted, granted, or certified in any manner by the AVMA or the ECFVG program.

In certain provinces it might be possible to get a restricted license to practice under certain circumstances.

For more information please contact your respective provincial licensing body.

Information as of December 2019, please verify with the provincial licensing body:

Province Restricted License (Y/N) If No, Suggested Alternative Opportunities
BC    
AB Yes  
SK Yes, the Saskatchewan Veterinary Medical Association has a General Practice Limited membership category that is available to NEB candidates who are preparing for the Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE).  
MB

Yes. Under the MVMA General By-Law No. 1, an applicant for registration from a non-accredited school can obtain a restricted license if the applicant has:

  • Submitted an application
  • Passed the BCSE
  • Passed the NAVLE
  • Registered for the PSA
  • Paid the registration fee

Under the restricted license, the member must practice under the direct supervision or indirect supervision of a Practicing Veterinarian Member.

The restrictions are removed from the license following the successful completion of the CPE.

The member may only hold this type of membership for a period of two years. Should the member not pass the CPE within two years, the restricted license is revoked.

  
ON Yes, Ontario issues Restricted licences to NEB candidates who are preparing for the CPE.  
QC No  
NB No  
NS Yes, the NSVMA does offer a Preceptorship to Candidates that have successfully completed the NAVLA and BCSE and that are in the pipeline to do the CPE.  
PE No Our statutes accommodate individuals by allowing licensed members to employ veterinarian candidates waiting to write NEB exams under a preceptorship relationship, where the employee is allowed to perform veterinary procedures under direct supervision. The licensed member is fully responsible for the activities of the employed individual.
NL

According to the NL Veterinary Medical Act:

  1. (1) The registrar may issue a conditional temporary veterinary licence to a person upon receipts of the fee set in the by-laws, where he or she is satisfied that the person is the holder of the qualifications set out in the by-laws

According to the by-laws:

  1. Conditional temporary licenses (updated November 2019)
    1. A conditional temporary license may be held for a maximum of two (2) years.
    2. Veterinarians with a conditional temporary license may only work under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian in a manner acceptable to the Board of the College.
    3. Any veterinarian applying for a conditional temporary license must have passed the NAVLE exam and have an offer of employment from a veterinarian with a general license in Newfoundland and Labrador.
    4. Veterinarians with conditional temporary license may not write prescriptions to outside pharmacies.
  

I am a foreign veterinary graduate and would like to register for the NEB examination.

Before You Register

Before registering to the NEB please complete the Self Assessment Tool for the Clinical Proficiency Exam if you are a graduate of a non-accredited school.

Step-by-step Guide

These are the steps needed to apply as a candidate to the NEB:

  1. Create your profile and complete the registration steps and fee payment (see Fee Schedule using the NEB Candidate Portal.
  2. Follow the guidelines from the Document Checklist that pertains to you.
    1. Document Checklist: Graduates - International-Accredited / International Non-Accredited
    2. Document Checklist: Future Graduates - International-Accredited / International Non-Accredited
  3. If you have already passed some of the exams you will have to get your results transferred to the NEB. For BCSE or CPE results you can ask ECFVG to transfer those results to us. For NAVLE results you will have to request a score transfer by using AAVSB Viva.
  4. Once your complete application has been received the NEB will assess it and will notify you once you have been approved.
  5. After your application has been approved you will be able to register for the first step of the NEB examination, the BCSE (or the NAVLE for students of accredited schools)

I want to write the NAVLE. How do I register?

Step-by-step Guide

Case #1: I am a final year student of a AVMA-COE accredited program:

  1. Register to become a NEB candidate, see: How do I register with the NEB?
  2. Once your application is submitted, you will get an NEB candidate ID and will have to wait until your application is processed and approved.
  3. If you already have a profile on the new NEB Candidate Portal, please complete the NAVLE registration from your dashboard (only available during the NAVLE application windows).
  4. Make sure you select the correct testing region and indicate if you need special accommodations or not. You can find more information here regarding accommodations: Exam Accommodations
  5. About six to eight weeks after the NAVLE application deadline you will receive an email from Prometric with your scheduling information.

Case #2: I am already a NEB candidate and have graduated from a non-accredited school:

  1. Make sure you are eligible to take the NAVLE by having passed the BCSE first.
  2. Login to the new NEB Candidate Portal and complete the NAVLE registration from your dashboard (only available during the NAVLE application windows).
  3. Make sure you select the correct testing region and indicate if you need special accommodations or not. You can find more information here regarding accommodations: Exam Accommodations
  4. About six to eight weeks after the NAVLE application deadline you will receive an email from Prometric with your scheduling information.

Case #3: I am a final year student of one of the Canadian veterinary colleges:

  1. Your school will send us a list of all eligible final year students.
  2. If you haven't taken the NAVLE before, please go ahead and create your candidate account in the new NEB Candidate Portal by following the steps listed here: Canadian Veterinary College Candidates Registration
  3. If you have previously taken the NAVLE and don't have an account in the new Candidate Portal yet, please contact neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org for more information.
  4. If you need accommodations, you can find more information here regarding accommodations: Exam Accommodations
  5. Once your profile has been created you will be able to register for the NAVLE from the dashboard by going to the next available NAVLE session under "Available Exam Sessions" and clicking on "register" to complete your NAVLE registration and pay the exam fee.
  6. Once your payment has been successful you will receive a confirmation email and a receipt.
  7. About six to eight weeks after the NAVLE application deadline you will receive an email from Prometric with your scheduling information.

Please Note:

Graduates from accredited schools that need more than three attempts to pass the NAVLE will also have to pass the PSA/CPE before being issued a Certificate of Qualification.

Please be aware that all candidates (final year students of the five Canadian veterinary schools excluded) who register for the NAVLE must apply to the NEB first (see NEB application process).

If we do not receive a full NEB application and supporting documents at least 30 days before the NAVLE application deadline we will not be able to guarantee that your file will be processed in time for you to be able to register!

NAVLE Sample Scheduling and Admission Permit

To request exam accommodations, follow these steps:

  1. Read the Guidelines for Accommodation Requests for NEB Examining Process.
  2. Complete electronically and completely the Accommodation Request Form, and sign it.
  3. Send your completed Accommodation Request Form and supporting documentation to the NEB by email at neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org at least 60 business days before you plan to take the BCSE, on or before the NAVLE application deadline, or 60 business days before your scheduled PSA and CPE exam dates. You must submit a new Accommodation Request Form each time you apply for a NEB examination, and you need to submit new or updated supporting documentation.
  4. Instruct your health professional to fully complete the Health Professional Assessment and Recommendations form electronically (i.e. not handwrite), and submit the completed form with any supporting documentation directly to the NEB (not via you) by the exam deadline (stated in bullet #3 above) to neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org.

You are a student of one of the five Canadian veterinary schools and have just graduated. You need your NEB Certificate of Qualification (CQ) in order to get licensed in your province. How can you obtain the CQ?

Step-by-step Guide

This is what happens once you graduate:

  1. The NEB receives lists with the names of all graduates from the Canadian schools. This usually happens mid-May to mid-June. NEB will not issue the CQ until the degree has been conferred.
  2. Mid-May, the NEB also receives the NAVLE results from the April testing window.
  3. The NEB verifies if all students from the lists of graduates have passed the NAVLE.
  4. The NEB assigns CQ numbers to all graduates that have passed the NAVLE and the Certificates of Qualification are uploaded to your NEB Candidate Portal usually around mid-May to mid-June.
  5. The NEB will prepare physical copies of the CQ to mail to candidates. Physical copies may take several weeks to be mailed and/or delivered depending on the postal service processing times.

Please Note:

As of June 15th, 2020 all provincial licensing bodies in Canada have access to an NEB Candidate Verification service that allows them to directly look up exam results and CQ numbers of candidates.

My NEB registration has been approved and I have just registered to the BCSE.

Step-by-step Guide

  1. You have successfully registered and paid for the BCSE
  2. You will have to wait up to 20 business days to receive your Authorization to Test letter (ATT). This letter will be sent to you by email.
  3. Once you receive your ATT you can go ahead and schedule your exam date with Prometric.

Please Note:

If you haven't received your ATT and it has been more than 20 business days since registering to the BCSE please contact us at neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org.

Once you have filled out the online application form, paid your fee and sent in your documents...

What Happens Next?

  • The NEB staff will conduct a formal review of your application
  • We will inform you if any documents are still missing
  • Once our review process is completed, we will notify you that you are now eligible to register for the first examination

Processing Timelines

  • Start of NEB Registration– NEB starts tracking your registration period when you pay the initial registration fee. It is important to note the date your fee was paid, as shown in your NEB profile, because this is the start date of your 7-year cycle. NEB candidates have seven years to complete all their NEB exams requirements to obtain the Certificate of Qualification.
  • Submitting Required Hard Copy/Physical Documents to NEB– The time this takes is determined by you and the institutions that must submit documents on your behalf.
  • Application Documents Received and Reviewed– Within 6 weeks of NEB receiving your documents for initial registration, you will be informed via the NEB portal or by email if you are approved or if there are any outstanding requirements.
  • Completion of any Outstanding Requirements– If you are informed that there are outstanding requirements, the time this takes to complete is based on how quickly you can follow through. Once we receive further documentation, we will expedite the process to ensure those who are pending registration with outstanding requirements are approved.

Please Note:

For any questions regarding your NEB application please contact our office at neb-bne@cvma-acmv.org

What happens after I have registered to the PSA or CPE "Wait List" or a specific CPE session?

Step-by-step Guide - Registration to PSA or CPE Waiting List

  1. You have successfully registered to the PSA or CPE waiting list through your profile on the NEB Candidate Portal.
  2. An automatic email confirmation will be sent.
  3. The NEB will contact you as soon as a seat is available for you*.
  4. If you accept the available date and location the seat will be assigned to you. For the CPE, in case you only paid 50% at registration, you will have to pay the exam fee balance due once a date has been accepted by you.
  5. About six weeks before the exam you will be sent a detailed schedule.

Step-by-step Guide - Direct Registration to a Specific CPE Session:

  1. You have successfully registered to a specific CPE session with a date.
  2. An automatic email confirmation will be sent.
  3. Your seat for those specific dates has been booked.
  4. If you only paid 50% at registration, you will have to pay the exam fee balance 60 days before the exam date.
  5. About six weeks before the exam you will be sent a detailed schedule.

Please Note:

Candidates should note that while every attempt will be made to accommodate a candidate’s choice of site and date, because of the restricted numbers for PSA and CPE sessions, a candidate may be required to accept an alternate site, or wait until a later date for the chosen site.

Please make sure to complete the Emergency Contact information on your profile by logging in to the NEB Candidate Portal, Account, Edit your profile details. A valid emergency contact needs to be on file for candidates scheduled for a PSA or CPE!

While every effort will be made to maintain dates and locations for PSA and CPE exams, they are subject to change or cancellation. We strongly recommend booking accommodations that can be cancelled and flights or transportation that can be rebooked in case there is a date change.

*Please note that as of December 2021 the waiting time for a seat could be eight months or longer due to the backlog created by Covid-19. All remaining 2021 PSA sessions have been filled and if you haven't been contacted it means that it is not your turn yet according to your position on the waiting list. We are working on increasing exam capacity for both CPE & PSA. We will contact you once we can offer you a seat according to your position on the PSA or CPE waiting list.

The following entities offer an instructional program designed to prepare internationally-trained graduates of non-accredited colleges of veterinary medicine for practice in Canada and/or the United States.

The NEB & CVMA have no opinion as to the usefulness of these programs for any given individual, nor do they endorse any of the resources listed on the CVMA Web site.

CPE registrations are open continuously. In order to register for the CPE you must have passed the BCSE and the PSA first. Eligibility to take the CPE will not be communicated individually to each candidate. If you have any doubts please contact the NEB office. CPE seats are assigned on a first-come first-served basis.