NAVLE Pass Rates Drop in 2024: What It Means for Veterinary Schools and Students
The latest results from the December 2024 North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) have sent ripples across the veterinary education community, revealing a sharp decline in pass rates at several U.S. and international veterinary schools. Traditionally seen as a capstone of veterinary education, the NAVLE determines whether students are eligible to practice in North America—and this year, the results paint a sobering picture. The composite pass rate of test takers was 88%, up from 86% in 2023 but still far below the 2020 pass rate of 95%.
Trouble at the Bottom: Schools with the Lowest Pass Rates
Several institutions fell below the AVMA Council on Education’s 80% minimum benchmark, while others barely met it:
Veterinary School 2024 NAVLE Pass Rate
St. George’s University 74%
Michigan State University 76%
University of Arizona 79.4%
Western University 72.1%
St. George’s University, once boasting an 88% pass rate in 2020, saw a sharp decline to 74% in 2024, marking a concerning trajectory. Similarly, well-established U.S. programs like Michigan State landed below the national average, raising questions about curriculum alignment and student preparedness.
Why the Drop?
Experts point to a number of contributing factors:
Changing Curriculum Demands: Some programs are in the midst of major curricular revisions, which may have temporarily impacted student outcomes.
Increased Test Difficulty, Reliance on Question Memorization Paid Courses, and Student Stress: Reports from December 2024 test-takers described complex question wording, issues with timing, second guessing answers and increased anxiety—likely due to high student debt and rising expectations for post-graduation job performance.
A Call to Action
Dr. Jill Lopez, Editor-in-Chief of Vet Candy emphasized that “these results are not an indictment of students, but a wake-up call for the AVMA COE to have the test evaluated by independent experts.” Institutions falling below the AVMA’s benchmark risk accreditation reviews, funding concerns, and decreased enrollment. Organizations like Vet Candy are stepping in to help. Their 12-week NAVLE Prep Course, which combines live tutoring, spaced repetition, and case-based learning, has shown promising early outcomes for repeat test-takers.
Despite the importance of NAVLE in veterinary licensure, many recent test takers have expressed growing concerns about the quality of the exam itself. Common feedback includes that the test is poorly written, with vague or outdated questions and out of focus images, and that it may not accurately reflect real-world veterinary knowledge or clinical practice.
Some students report finishing the exam with low confidence—not due to lack of preparation, but due to a lack of clarity and coherence in the questions themselves. Some reported that the test contained a disproportionate amount of questions about lessor species that ICVA reported to be less than 1.7% of the test. Others note that the test did not question them about the most common diseases in vet med, instead asked questions about rare or rarely seen conditions. These concerns have sparked calls within the veterinary community for the AVMA COE to have the exam independently reviewed by specialists, ideally with the help of outside educational and psychometric experts, to ensure the exam remains a valid and fair measure of veterinary competence.
What's Next?
Veterinary schools now face a pivotal moment. Rebuilding pass rates will take more than test prep—it will require revamped clinical training, mental health support, and a reexamination of how well academic programs reflect the realities of veterinary practice.
In the meantime, students are urged to be proactive. Start NAVLE prep early, seek out structured review programs, and don’t be afraid to ask for help. Vet Candy’s next NAVLE Prep program kicks off on June 1st and you can sign up for free here: myvetcandy.com/prep
Because while a number may determine your license, it doesn’t define your ability to be a great veterinarian. If you would like to voice your concerns and contact the AVMA COE and ask them to independently evaluate the exam.
*Source vet school websites
