A Price Tag on the Dream: The CPE Fee Jump and What It Means for Future Veterinarians
The Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) has announced a major increase in the cost of the Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE), raising the fee from $7,630 to $12,804 beginning with the 2026 exam cycle. This fee covers only the CPE itself—not the entire ECFVG certification program—and represents nearly a $5,200 jump.
For internationally trained veterinarians, the CPE is the high-stakes, hands-on exam that determines whether they can earn licensure in the United States. It’s the final and often most challenging hurdle after years of credential verification, coursework, and rigorous preparation.
Why the Price Skyrocketed
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the increase reflects the rising operational costs at CPE testing sites. The exam requires:
Highly trained personnel (veterinarians, technicians, support staff)
Multi-day access to full clinical facilities
Live animals with strict welfare protocols
Standardized oversight to ensure uniformity across all locations
Maintaining that level of consistency, animal care, and fairness has become significantly more expensive.
Here’s how the new fee breaks down:
$12,604 paid directly to the CPE testing site
$200 administrative fee paid to the ECFVG
Total: $12,804
This is the highest the CPE fee has ever been.
What This Means for Future Candidates
For many foreign-trained veterinarians, this fee increase adds yet another barrier to an already long and costly process. Candidates often navigate financial strain, visa challenges, and limited work options while completing their certification pathway. The added expense may delay exam scheduling or force some candidates to pause their progress entirely.
The AVMA asserts that the increase is necessary to protect the exam’s quality, reliability, and safety—critical components for a high-stakes exam used to assess clinical competence. But the financial impact is significant, and many candidates are already feeling the weight of what this change means for their future in U.S. veterinary medicine.
