NAVLE 2026 Dates, Deadlines, Fees, and Application Requirements
Title: NAVLE 2026 Dates, Deadlines, Fees, and Application Requirements
Meta description: NAVLE 2026 testing windows, application deadlines, fees, eligibility requirements, and score release dates — everything you need to register and sit for the exam this cycle.
Slug: navle-2026-dates-deadlines-requirements
Missing the NAVLE application deadline means waiting an entire testing cycle to try again. Here are all the dates, deadlines, fees, and requirements you need for the 2026 testing year — updated for the new three-window format.
2026 NAVLE Testing Windows
Beginning with the 2025-2026 testing cycle, there are now three NAVLE testing windows each year instead of two: Lsbvm
— October 15 to November 15, 2025
— March 1 to March 21, 2026
— July 13 to August 8, 2026
The application period for the October through November 2026 testing window opens June 1, 2026 and closes July 15, 2026. Vet Candy
Application Deadlines
All eligible applicants must apply and pay ICVA by the following deadlines: July 15, 2025 for the October-November window; January 7, 2026 for the March window; and May 7, 2026 for the July-August window. Late submissions are not accepted. Kansas
Eligibility Requirements
To be eligible you must be in your final year of an accredited veterinary program, a graduate of an accredited program, or enrolled in the ECFVG certification program. NAVLE exam applicants must be in the senior year of, or be a graduate of, an accredited school of veterinary medicine, or be enrolled in the ECFVG certification program. Kansas
Score Release
Exam scores will be available online to you and your licensing board approximately four to five weeks after the testing window closes. You will receive an email with instructions on how to access your NAVLE Score Report when results are ready. Icva
The New Retake Policy
This is the most important policy change for 2026. Beginning with the March 2026 testing window, all candidates are granted five attempts to take the NAVLE. Any attempts made before December 1, 2025 do not count toward this limit. Even candidates who previously reached or exceeded five attempts have five new opportunities available under the new policy. No waivers will be granted going forward. Vet Candy
One scheduling note that catches students off guard: a candidate who tests during the July through August window cannot apply for and take the NAVLE during the immediately following October through November window due to score reporting timelines. They would need to wait until the next March window. Plan accordingly. Vet Candy
Accommodations
If you have a documented disability and require accommodations, you must indicate this on your application and submit the NAVLE Accommodation Request Form and supporting documentation before the application deadline for your testing window. All accommodations require ICVA review and approval. Icva
Start preparing now
Knowing the dates is step one. Passing is step two. NAVLE Warriors is Vet Candy's free 12-week board prep program — structured, community-driven, and proven. Schools using the program saw first-time pass rates jump from 51% to 74% in a single year.
Join NAVLE Warriors for free →
More from Vet Candy:
What Is the NAVLE? Everything Veterinary Students Need to Know
How to Pass the NAVLE: A 3-Month Study Plan
Vet Candy Weekly Newsletter