LatinxVMA Calls for Independent NAVLE and ICVA Audit: A Push for Transparency, Fairness, and Trust in Veterinary Licensure
In a profession that prides itself on evidence-based practice, transparency, and public trust, one of veterinary medicine’s most consequential gatekeeping tools, the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), is now at the center of a growing call for independent review.
Today, the Latinx Veterinary Medical Association (LatinxVMA) issued a powerful open letter to the AVMA Board of Directors, urging the organization to support a third-party audit of the NAVLE. The exam, administered by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA), is required for veterinary licensure across the U.S. and Canada. It represents the final hurdle between thousands of students and the clinical careers they’ve spent years preparing for. And according to LatinxVMA, that is exactly why a transparent, independent evaluation is overdue.
A Growing Chorus of Concern
The letter acknowledges a reality many in academia and recent graduates have quietly discussed: concerns (some anecdotal, others rooted in student experience) about fairness, item construction, and potential bias within the NAVLE. LatinxVMA makes clear that these reports remain unverified, but stresses that their persistence signals a need for closer examination.
For students from underrepresented backgrounds, especially Hispanic and Latinx candidates, these worries often take on an added emotional and financial weight. LatinxVMA notes that they frequently hear from examinees who feel the exam may present unique challenges to minority candidates, whether due to cultural context within questions, linguistic complexity, or the influence of socioeconomic factors on test preparation.
The key, they argue, is not to assume wrongdoing but to validate or dispel these concerns with data.
Why an Independent Audit Matters
LatinxVMA’s request is straightforward: commission an external, unbiased psychometric evaluation of the NAVLE and release findings publicly.
The group argues that an audit would:
Assess potential cultural, linguistic, or socioeconomic bias
Examine item construction and psychometric methodology
Confirm alignment with modern educational and competency standards
Strengthen public and professional confidence in the exam
Importantly, the letter is careful not to frame the call as an attack on ICVA. Instead, LatinxVMA positions this as an opportunity to reinforce the profession’s commitment to fairness, equity, and accountability.
“An objective evaluation by an independent auditing body is the most reliable way to address these concerns,” the letter states. “Our aim is not to cast doubt on the examination, but to ensure that every future veterinarian, regardless of background, can trust that the licensing pathway is fair, rigorous, and thoroughly evaluated.”
Other Professions Have Set the Precedent
LatinxVMA points out that veterinary medicine is not breaking new ground by asking for this level of scrutiny. Medicine and law—two of the closest parallel licensing systems—routinely commission outside audits.
The National Board of Medical Examiners, for example, regularly engages external psychometric experts to assess the fairness and validity of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination. Likewise, the National Conference of Bar Examiners has adopted independent fairness reviews for various components of bar exams across the country.
Clearly, high-stakes testing benefits from independent oversight. And veterinary medicine, LatinxVMA argues, should be no exception.
An Invitation to Strengthen the Profession
One of the most striking elements of the letter is its tone. The letter is an invitation to AVMA leadership to partner with LatinxVMA in bolstering trust in the licensure process.
A public endorsement from the AVMA, they argue, would not only signal support for transparency but also encourage the ICVA to fully participate in the review. For students juggling academic pressure, personal expectations, and the financial strain of preparing for licensure, such a gesture could be transformative.
What Happens Next?
The veterinary profession is in the midst of profound conversations around equity, inclusion, and representation. LatinxVMA’s public call puts NAVLE oversight squarely into that dialogue.
Whether the AVMA formally endorses the audit remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the request is tapping into something larger than a single exam. It’s part of a broader movement asking veterinary institutions to examine long-standing systems through a modern, equitable lens.
And for the next generation of veterinarians, especially those from communities historically underrepresented in the field, that conversation is not just timely. It’s essential.
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