Everything You Need to Know About the 2026 NAVLE Before You Even Open a Study Guide

Before you can think about passing the NAVLE, you need to understand what it actually is, who can take it, how to register, and when it happens. This is the article that answers all of that in one place.

What is the NAVLE?

The North American Veterinary Licensing Examination, known as the NAVLE, is the licensing exam required to practice veterinary medicine in the United States and Canada. It has been administered by the ICVA since 2000, and it is the single most important exam of your veterinary career, almost all career pathways as a veterinarian require working as a licensed veterinarian, which requires a passing of NAVLE. Every state and province requires a passing NAVLE score as part of the veterinary licensure process, which means there is no path to practice without it.

The exam consists of 360 multiple-choice questions and is administered as a computer-based fixed form test at Prometric testing centers throughout North America and at certain international sites. Every candidate receives the same 360 questions. Approximately 15 to 20 percent of questions include graphics such as photographs or radiographs.

Who is eligible to take the NAVLE?

To be eligible, you must be a senior student at or a graduate of a school or college of veterinary medicine accredited by the AVMA Council on Education at the time of your graduation. If you have not yet graduated at the time of application, your expected graduation date must be no later than ten months from the last date of the applicable testing window. Candidates may take the NAVLE up to two times prior to graduation.

International veterinary graduates whose schools are not AVMA-accredited must complete the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates program, known as the ECFVG, or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence, known as PAVE, before they are eligible. Candidates in ECFVG must complete the BCSE examination requirement, and candidates in PAVE must complete the QSE examination requirement, before a licensing board can approve them for the NAVLE.

When is the NAVLE offered?

The NAVLE is offered during three testing windows each year. For the 2025 through 2026 testing cycle, the windows and their application periods are as follows. The October through November 2025 window has an application period of June 2 through July 15, with scores released approximately December 15 through 27. The March 2026 window has an application period of December 1 through January 7, with scores released approximately April 20 through May 2. The July through August 2026 window has an application period of April 1 through May 7, with scores released approximately September 7 through 19.

All application, eligibility, and accommodations materials must be received by the application deadline with no exceptions. Applications will not be accepted after the deadline.

What does the exam look like?

The total exam time is seven and a half hours. The NAVLE is currently divided into six testing blocks of 60 questions each, with 65 minutes per block, an optional 15-minute tutorial, and 45 minutes of total break time to be used between blocks. You may skip questions and mark them for review within each block, but once a block is submitted or time expires, answers are final. An on-screen calculator is available.

Important note for students testing in the October through November 2026 window and beyond:

Beginning with the October-November 2026 NAVLE, the test will be divided into twelve (12) blocks of 30 questions each. For more details and a side-by-side comparison of the current versus new block formats, check the updates here.

How do you apply?

Applications are submitted through the ICVA website at icva.net during the designated application period for your chosen window. U.S. applicants apply through their intended state licensing board or use the no-board option if licensure state is undecided. Canadian applicants must submit through the Canadian National Examining Board, not the ICVA. The standard fee for testing in the United States, U.S. territories, and Canada is $800. For testing outside those regions, an additional international testing fee of $380 applies for a total of $1,180. The NAVLE fee is nonrefundable and nontransferable. If you do not test during the window for which you were approved, you must reapply and pay the full fee again.

How many times can you take the NAVLE?

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.

One important scheduling note: due to score reporting timelines and application deadlines, 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. They would need to wait until the next March window.

What score do you need to pass?

The NAVLE uses a scaled scoring system. Your score report provides a pass or fail designation, a three-digit scaled score, and a diagnostic breakdown of your performance across content areas. Scores are released approximately four to five weeks after the testing window closes and are sent automatically to the licensing board you designated on your application. NAVLE scores are expressed on a scale that ranges from 200 to 800, with the minimum passing score set at 425. The NAVLE uses criterion-referenced passing scores and is not graded on a curve. There are no re-scores or appeals of NAVLE scores once the score reports are released.

What if I need test accommodations?

The ICVA follows the principles of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by providing equal exam access to all candidates. The application process includes an opportunity for you to indicate the need for reasonable test accommodations. If you have a documented disability covered under the ADA and require test accommodations, you must do the following:

1. Indicate in the application that you will request accommodations.

2. Complete and submit the NAVLE Accommodation Request Form and your documentation before deadline for your NAVLE testing window. 

The request for ADA accommodations requires ICVA review and approval. All supporting documentation must be provided to the ICVA prior to, or during the submission of your NAVLE application, and please note the following. 

1. If you have documentation on file from a previous NAVLE attempt, you must still mark on the application that you are requesting accommodations. 

2. If you are requesting different accommodations from a previous NAVLE attempt, you must complete a new NAVLE Accommodation Request Packet before the application deadline for the applicable testing window. 

3. If your accommodation request requires that you have extended testing time, or more frequent breaks, you must take the NAVLE over a two (2) day period, presenting the Scheduling and Admission Permit on both days.

4. The processing of your NAVLE Scheduling and Admission Permit can only begin once you are approved for both the test and your requested accommodations. 

5. It is recommended that you contact Prometric to schedule your examination appointment date(s) as soon as possible after you receive your NAVLE Scheduling and Admission Permit.

What if something goes wrong during my examination (e.g., power outage, fire alarm)?

If you believe the administration of your exam or the conditions during the exam negatively affected your performance, you can file a grievance to request an investigation by the ICVA. To file a grievance, you must complete the following:

1. Access the File a Grievance online form.

2. Input and submit the required details, including date, time, and location of the exam, along with as much detail as possible about the event.

3. Additionally, it’s important to file a grievance—either directly with Prometric at the testing center immediately after your exam or through the Prometric website within the same ten (10) business days.

Please ensure your grievance request meets these guidelines and is submitted on time; incomplete or late submissions will not be reviewed.

Important note: The investigation process may take up to 60 days, and once complete, ICVA staff will provide a follow-up response.

The bottom line

The NAVLE is a high-stakes exam with a structured registration process, three annual testing windows, and a five-attempt lifetime limit effective March 2026. Understanding the logistics before you start studying is not optional. It is the first step. Once you have your test date locked in, the real work begins, and that is where a dedicated prep program makes all the difference.

Vet Candy's NAVLE Warriors program is built specifically to help veterinary students navigate everything that comes after registration. One partner veterinary college saw their first-time NAVLE pass rate jump from 51 percent in 2024 to 74 percent in 2025 after integrating NAVLE Warriors into their prep process. Learn more at myvetcandy.com.