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In 1971, the House of Delegates approved a "Procedure for Recognizing Graduates of Colleges of Veterinary Medicine Outside the United States and Canada." That procedure included a provision for the formation of "a special committee to be named the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates, advisory to the Council on Education, which shall be appointed by the AVMA Executive Board to maintain continuing surveillance over procedures for acceptance of graduates of colleges of veterinary medicine outside the United States and Canada." Today, the ECFVG continues to carry out its two-part charge:

1. To evaluate the professional competence of graduates of non-AVMA/Council on Education-accredited colleges of veterinary medicine listed by the AVMA, to the benefit of such graduates and of the state and provincial veterinary licensing agencies, and of other concerned parties; and
2. To allow utilization of ECFVG examinations and other assessment resources to evaluate the professional competence of graduates of AVMA/Council on Education-accredited colleges of veterinary medicine when such utilization is to the benefit of the state and provincial veterinary licensing agencies, and other concerned parties.

Recommendations pertaining to changes in ECFVG policies are forwarded to the AVMA Executive Board for consideration and approval. Decisions related to candidates and internal operational policies such as the Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination (BCSE) procedures, Clinical Proficiency Examination Manual of Administration, petitioning processes, and application and other forms are made by the ECFVG alone and are independent of the AVMA. Further, such decisions are not influenced by the partner organization or its recognized affiliate organizations. Since the inception of the current certification program (January 1, 1973) through December 31, 2008, the ECFVG has awarded more than 4,420 certificates.

The current ECFVG comprises 9 members representing the AVMA Council on Education (COE), Veterinary Members of State Veterinary Licensing Boards, Senior Administrative Executives of State Veterinary Licensing Boards, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC), Government Service, Canadian National Examining Board (NEB), Clinical Practitioners Holding an ECFVG Certificate, the Public, and Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE) Site Coordinators. The latter position is non-voting. Appointments for all voting representatives except the public member are made by the AVMA Executive Board for terms of six years beginning at the close of the AVMA annual meeting. ECFVG members who have served terms of three years or more are not eligible for re-appointment. The term of the representative of the Council on Education terminates concurrently with the end of the representative's term on the Council. The ECFVG continues to report its activities to the COE through the COE representative.

The public member is appointed by the Commission when a vacancy exists, for a non-renewable six-year term that begins at the close of the AVMA Annual Convention. Criteria used in the selection of public members specify that they shall not be:

1. A veterinarian.
2. A current or former employee of a college of veterinary medicine.
3. A vendor to the ECFVG.
4. Currently or formerly affiliated with any other constituent group represented on the ECFVG.

A non-voting liaison representing CPE site coordinators will be appointed by the ECFVG Site Coordinators at ECFVG-approved CPE sites to serve a three-year term, with eligibility to serve one additional three-year term. The liaison will be invited to attend only those portions of the ECFVG meeting at which CPE issues are addressed and will serve on the CPE Steering Committee.

The ECFVG office is located in the Education and Research Division at AVMA Headquarters in Schaumburg, Illinois. An Assistant Director in the Education and Research Division and the ECFVG Coordinator provide AVMA staff support to the Commission. ECFVG information, including an application form, can be found on the AVMA Web site (home page: www.avma.org) at www.avma.org/education/ecfvg/default.asp.