Getting Your License
To get licensed as a veterinary professional for the first time, you’ll work with the veterinary regulators in the U.S. state(s) and/or Canadian province(s) in which you plan to practice.
At the AAVSB, we don’t issue your license, but we do maintain the Board and Agency Directory, a tool that helps direct you to the right source of information.
When the Licensure Process Starts
The first step toward licensure is usually to pass either the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) for veterinarians or the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE) for veterinary technicians.
However, passing a test does not equal getting licensed, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with your jurisdiction’s licensure requirements and start the process early.
What You Might Need
Each jurisdiction has its own regulations and requirements, but here are examples of what you might need to provide to get your license.
- A completed licensure application for your jurisdiction
- Information from your school, such as your transcript and/or diploma
- Letters of professional reference
- Your work history
- Your basic personal information, such as name, address, date of birth, etc.
- A recent photograph of yourself
- Proof of citizenship or work authorization
- Payment for licensing fees
Use our Board and Agency Directory to find information specific to your jurisdiction.
How We Can Help
At the AAVSB, we support your licensure process by pulling together information from various jurisdictions to help guide you to the right sources of information.
The licensure process can be complex, so we also offer services that can help streamline the process.
Create a MyAAVSB Account
A MyAAVSB account can serve as your career record and repository for information and documents you’ll need for licensure throughout your career.
If you’ve used our services (such as taking the VTNE), you may already have a MyAAVSB account. If you don’t have an account, setting it up is free and starts with a simple application.
Do you help accessing or creating an account? Let us know.
VAULT for First-Time Licensees
When you register for the NAVLE or VTNE, you may select a jurisdiction to automatically receive your official score report. If you selected the “No-Board” option for the NAVLE, you must use the Veterinary Application for Uniform Licensure Transfer (VAULT) for a First-Time License Application service to identify where to send your score.
You can also use VAULT for a First-Time License Application Service to provide your score on the NAVLE or the VTNE to a different or additional jurisdiction than the one you specified when you registered for the test.
State and Provincial Assessment (SPA) Jurisprudence Exam
Some jurisdictions require a jurisprudence examination, which evaluates your knowledge of the laws and regulations of the state or province in which you practice. The AAVSB administers SPA exams for some of those jurisdictions.
International Pathway (PAVE) Service
If you graduated from a non-AVMA COE or AVMA/CVMA accredited program and want to get licensed in the United States or Canada, our Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) service can help.
For More Information
This informational video explores how we support the licensure process, including customized presentations we can provide to veterinary schools and organizations. If you have further questions, let us know