Veterinarians Needed: Help Shape the Future of the NAVLE®

The veterinary profession is evolving rapidly, and the licensing process must evolve alongside it. That’s why the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) is calling on veterinarians across the United States and Canada to participate in the 2026 NAVLE Practice Analysis Survey.

This important initiative will help ensure that the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE®) continues to reflect the real-world knowledge and competencies needed by newly licensed veterinarians entering practice today.

Why the NAVLE Practice Analysis Matters

The NAVLE® serves as a critical step in the veterinary licensure process throughout North America. To maintain the exam’s relevance and validity, ICVA periodically conducts a comprehensive practice analysis study to evaluate the essential skills and knowledge expected of a minimally proficient, day-one ready, general mixed animal veterinarian.

A panel of veterinary experts from across North America has already proposed updates to the exam blueprint. Now, ICVA is partnering with the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) to gather feedback directly from practicing veterinarians.

The goal: ensure the NAVLE® accurately reflects contemporary veterinary practice and continues setting the standard for competency in the profession.

What Veterinarians Will Be Asked

Participants in the survey will have the opportunity to evaluate:

• The criticality of various competency domains

• The frequency with which those competencies are used in practice

• Diagnostic domains relevant to the species they see most often

• Additional core knowledge areas that may deserve inclusion on future versions of the NAVLE®

By participating, veterinarians can directly influence the future direction of veterinary licensure and help ensure new graduates are prepared for the realities of modern practice.

Who Should Participate?

ICVA encourages veterinarians currently practicing in the United States or Canada to complete the survey.

If you recently received an email invitation from the AVMA or CVMA, use the personalized survey link provided in that email. If you did not receive an invitation, ICVA has made the survey publicly available to eligible veterinarians.

The survey deadline is June 8, 2026.

Why Your Voice Matters

Veterinary medicine spans a broad range of species, practice settings, and clinical expectations. Input from practicing veterinarians is essential to building a licensing examination that reflects the diversity and complexity of the profession.

Whether you work in companion animal medicine, mixed animal practice, food animal medicine, equine practice, shelter medicine, or another field, your perspective helps shape the competencies expected of future veterinarians.

As ICVA notes, this collaborative effort is about “setting a higher standard together.”

Learn More

Veterinarians interested in participating or learning more about the NAVLE Practice Analysis Survey can visit the official ICVA website:

International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA)

Additional NAVLE resources, including candidate information and self-assessment tools, are also available through the ICVA platform.