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An ECFVG certificate may be accepted by state veterinary medical licensing agencies as fulfilling the educational prerequisite, either in full or in part, for state licensure eligibility. The majority of states require graduates of non-AVMA accredited veterinary schools to hold an ECFVG certificate. However, because licensing requirements can change, the ECFVG and AVMA urge all veterinarians to contact the licensing agency in the state in which they wish to become licensed to determine current requirements, including educational prerequisites.
The ECFVG certification program comprises 4 steps, each one designed to build from the previous. The purpose of the first step is to confirm an applicant's veterinary college credentials. The second step is designed to assess a candidate's English language ability. The purpose of the third step is to assess a candidate's basic and clinical veterinary science knowledge, whereas the purpose of the fourth and final step is to assess a candidate's hands-on clinical veterinary medical skills.
An applicant who satisfactorily completes the following 4 steps (in order) will be awarded an ECFVG certificate:
- Provide proof (diploma and final transcripts) of graduation from an AVMA-listed college of veterinary medicine. The ECFVG will seek verification of the applicant's credentials by direct request to the college from which the individual claims graduation.
- Provide proof of comprehension and ability to communicate in the English language by attaining passing scores on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Test of Spoken English (TSE), and Test of Written English (TWE) or and the internet-based TOEFL (iB-TOEFL) as administered by Educational Testing Service of Princeton, NJ; or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) as administered by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, the British Council, and IDE Education Australia; or the Canadian Academic English Language Assessment (CAEL) as administered by Carleton University in Ontario, Canada. Candidates whose native language is English are exempt from the English language examinations provided they submit documentation attesting to at least three years full-time attendance at a secondary (high) school at which the complete language of instruction was English. Native language means the common language of an individual's country of birth. A degree from a US college or university is not considered adequate proof of English language ability.
- Attain a passing score on the Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination (BCSE), OR prior to July 2007 the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), OR prior to spring 2000, the National Board Examination (NBE) and Clinical Competency Test (CCT). Please note that ECFVG candidates MUST first complete Step 2 (English language ability) to be eligible to take the BCSE. Step 3 is considered complete when the ECFVG verifies a passing BCSE score has been obtained OR the ECFVG receives an official score report indicating a passing score on the NAVLE (April 2007 and previous administrations only) or the NBE and CCT from the Veterinary Information Verifying Agency (VIVA) of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards.
- Attain a passing score on all sections of the Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE) approved by the ECFVG OR prior to July 1, 2007 ONLY, successfully complete a postgraduate evaluated clinical year.
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= AVMA/SAVMA Members Only
