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Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination (BCSE)
The Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination (BCSE) is designed to assess basic and clinical veterinary sciences knowledge. The knowledge level expected to receive a passing score on the BCSE is that of an entry-level veterinarian (i.e., a new graduate of an accredited veterinary school).
The computer-based BCSE consists of 225 questions that must be completed within a 220-minute test session. The format of the BCSE questions consists of multiple-choice and alternative formats; such as matching, drag-and-drop and hot spot. Twenty-five of the 225 questions will be pretest items and will not be scored. These additional questions will be intermingled with scored questions. You will not be able to distinguish between the two.
In addition to the 220-minute test session, the four-hour testing appointment will include a brief tutorial to introduce you to computer-based testing and an exit evaluation at the end of the examination.
Graduates of a non-accredited veterinary school must first pass the BCSE to be eligible to appear for the NAVLE and the PSA/CPE. Such candidates may then choose the order in which they will appear for the exams, either NAVLE first or PSA/CPE first.
North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE)
The NAVLE is designed to assess your knowledge of veterinary medicine as it relates to entry-level private clinical practice. The examination covers all animal species commonly seen by private practitioners in North America.
The NAVLE consists of an optional 15-minute tutorial and 360 multiple-choice questions administered in six blocks of 60 questions each. Approximately 15%-20% of the NAVLE questions will include graphic or pictorial (such as a photograph or radiograph). Pictorial information will be displayed in a viewer window that provides zoom, contrast adjustment, and panning capabilities.
Sixty of the 360 questions will be used as pretest questions and will not be included in scoring. Pretest questions will occur randomly throughout your examination. You will not be able to distinguish between the scored and pretest items.
You will have 65 minutes to complete each block, for a total of 390 minutes (or six and one-half hours) of total examination time. Within each block, you may answer questions in any order and review and/or change your answers. When you exit a block, or when time expires, no further review of questions or changing of answers within that block is possible.
Preliminary Surgical Assessment (PSA)
This Qualifying Examination will assess the candidate’s ability to:
- Prepare a cadaver for a sterile abdominal surgical procedure;
- Prepare himself/herself for a sterile surgical procedure;
- Perform a ventral midline celiotomy (approximately 10 cm in length) and close the ventral midline celiotomy, subcutaneous tissue and skin on a cadaver.
Maximum time: 1.5 hours from initiation of cadaver preparation to completion of surgical procedure (placement of final skin suture in the cadaver). Candidates not completing the surgical procedure in this time period will fail the Qualifying Examination.
After the examination the examiners will use 30 minutes to have a short exit interview with the candidate to let them know which skills they have to work on. The results of the examination and a short feedback on the tested skills will be sent to candidates by the NEB office.
There is no limit on retakes for the PSA.
Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE)
The Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE) is a practical examination of the candidate's medical and surgical skills. It is designed to assess the candidate's ability to handle actual medical, surgical and diagnostic problems in a clinical or hospital setting. The CPE involves the examination and treatment of live animals and the performance of routine laboratory procedures.
Each of the exams is described in greater detail here:
Availability of the Examinations
BCSE
The BCSE will be offered throughout the year on a continuous testing basis. You will be able to schedule your testing appointment directly with Prometric only after applying and paying for the BCSE through the NEB office and receiving an Authorization to Test (ATT) letter in return.
Although testing will be offered on a continuous basis, you may only test one time (one test attempt) with each submitted application. Candidates are permitted to take the BCSE three times within a 12 month period.
The exam is administered at Prometric Inc.TM test centres throughout Canada, the USA, and various other countries. Please visit Prometric’s Web site at www.prometric.com to view the list of test centres available to you for the BCSE. You may schedule your BCSE for any available testing date at any testing centre.
NAVLE
Beginning with the 2025-2026 testing cycle, the NAVLE will be given during three testing windows annually. Please review the NAVLE page for specific dates and deadlines.
The NAVLE is given at testing centers operated by Prometric. There are about 300 centers in North America. Look for sites listed for the "International Council for Veterinary Assessment" and then select "NAVLE" or "NAVLF (French version)." The NAVLE is offered at Prometric centers in the US, Puerto Rico, Guam, the US Virgin Islands, and in Canada. The NAVLE is also offered at selected testing centers overseas, including sites in countries throughout Europe, Latin America, Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Additional information on testing locations can be found on the Prometric website.
PSA and CPE
The PSA and the CPE are currently available several times per year at Canadian colleges of veterinary medicine. Candidates eligible to take the CPE can register for a CPE seat through the CPE waitlist on the NEB Candidate Portal. PSA registrations are open continuously and CPE registrations are open a few times a year. Upon registering for the PSA or CPE, candidates will be placed on a waiting list and will be contacted with the next available exam dates and locations. The NEB reserves the right to change the date and/or location at which any examination is offered. Every effort will be made to ensure candidates are given adequate advance notice of any change.