ECFVG announcements

November 20, 2020 – Time between steps: Seven-years rule temporary suspension

Candidates enrolled in the ECFVG program on or after January 1, 2015, are required to complete Step 3 and Step 4 requirements within seven years of completing Step 2 requirements, in order to successfully complete certification requirements. Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, the seven-years stipulation rule is temporarily suspended starting from April 1, 2020. Time suspended will not count against the candidate’s application. When ECFVG lifts the suspension, candidates will revert to the timeframe they had prior to the April 1, 2020, date. For example, if a candidate was originally required to complete Step 3 and Step 4 requirements on June 30, 2022, and if the temporary suspension is lifted on April 1, 2021 (365 days), the new date to complete Step 3 and Step 4 requirements would be June 30, 2023. See details of the seven-year stipulation.

November 10, 2020

The Viticus Group (formerly WVC, Las Vegas) have provided us with their 2021 CPE dates. With this update we will begin to open scheduling via your ECFVG Online page and provide first access to candidates that had confirmed CPE dates that were adversely affected due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This is for candidates that did not book during one of the two previous priority periods. These candidates will receive a 1-week priority scheduling on their ECFVG Online page starting November 10, 2020 and ending November 17, 2020. At that time the 2021 schedule will appear on all candidates’ ECFVG Online page for scheduling if you are eligible.

Mississippi State University (MSU) does not have any updates currently. We will post MSU dates when they are available.

Individuals signing up for 2021 CPE dates should be aware that the 2021 Manual of Administration (MOA) will be added to the ECFVG website, and emailed to scheduled candidates, once it is completed and all 2020 CPEs are administered. All of the 2020 CPEs will be completed in December.

Any future cancellations by either site will be communicated to scheduled candidates via email and the ECFVG Announcement page.

The ECFVG is well aware of the hardship that the pandemic has caused for candidates and has asked the test sites if they can add extra test dates. Future openings will appear directly on your ECFVG Online page and can be applied to directly on the site. Please check back on your ECFVG Online page for cancellations that can be filled.

Please continue to check the ECFVG website for updates and be sure your email does not send ECFVGavma [dot] org emails to junk or spam as we will provide all updates via these two sources, so candidates do not have to call/email continuously and all effected are afforded equal opportunities.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work together through this challenging time. The COVID-19 situation has caused, and will continue to cause, great uncertainty for everyone into the foreseeable future. It has also caused many logistical issues that may not have the ideal solution for each individual scenario, but we will try our best with consultation of the sites. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

The ECFVG is aware that examinees are scheduled to take Step 4 – Clinical Proficiency Exam (CPE) and of the importance of the examination to their future goals. However, given the necessity of close interaction between exam personnel and candidates during the administration of this exam, it is important to take the following precautionary steps to protect the health of examinees and test center staff.

CPE Test Cancellations

The CPE scheduled to be administered in November 2020 at Mississippi State University is cancelled due to concerns and the resultant likelihood of institutional restrictions related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) that could potentially significantly impact candidate participation.

If your testing appointment is canceled as a result of the closure by a CPE site, you will be contacted by the ECFVG staff who will advise you with details for rescheduling your appointment. Be sure your email does not send ECFVGavma [dot] org emails to junk or spam.

Upcoming CPE Exams

While CPE exams at Viticus Group (formerly WVC, Las Vegas) resumed in July, the AVMA and ECFVG are closely monitoring the rapidly changing circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on travel and activities. Please check the ECFVG website and the candidate bulletin regularly for updates.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work together through this challenging time.

The ECFVG is aware that examinees are scheduled to take Step 4 - Clinical Proficiency Exam (CPE) and of the importance of the examination to their future goals. However, given the necessity of close interaction between exam personnel and candidates during the administration of this exam, it is important to take the following precautionary steps to protect the health of examinees and test center staff.

CPE Test Cancellations

The CPE scheduled to be administered in September 2020 at Mississippi State University is cancelled due to concerns and the resultant likelihood of institutional restrictions related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) that could potentially significantly impact candidate participation.

If your testing appointment is canceled as a result of the closure by a CPE site, you will be contacted by the ECFVG Staff who will advise you with details for rescheduling your appointment. Be sure your email does not send ECFVGavma [dot] org emails to junk or spam.

Upcoming CPE Exams

While CPE exams at Viticus Group (formerly WVC, Las Vegas) resumed in July, the AVMA and ECFVG are closely monitoring the rapidly changing circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on travel and activities. Please check the ECFVG website and the candidate bulletin regularly for updates.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work together through this challenging time.

Prometric will be re-instating cancellation and rescheduling fees effective Monday, August 3, 2020, where applicable by testing program.

The Viticus Group (formerly WVC, Las Vegas) has alerted us they will resume CPE testing as of their July CPE dates. With this update we will begin to open scheduling via your ECFVG Online page and prioritize candidates that had confirmed CPE dates adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. The following are the steps put in place to aide in priority scheduling. Please read and follow the below carefully:

• Known CPE dates for the remainder of 2020 will be opened on the ECFVG Online page exclusively for those candidates who had confirmed CPE dates adversely affected by the pandemic. These prioritized candidates will be alerted of this 1-week time period’s start and stop date by email. At the end of the 1-week priority period, the ECFVG Online scheduling will be open to all candidates for selection of CPE slots remaining (if any). Those priority candidates not able to schedule for any of the CPE slots available through the end of this year will be given 1 more priority access week prior to release of 2021 CPE dates.
• If your testing appointment was canceled as a result of the closure by a CPE site, or you withdrew due to COVID-19 related issues, you were contacted via email by the ECFVG Staff and advised of details for rescheduling your appointment. Before being alerted of rescheduling, please find the email you received or contact us to receive it again at ECFVGavma [dot] org. Any error incurred due to failing to follow the instructions laid out in the email, specific to your scenario, could lead to errors in scheduling and forfeiting of fees and/or date scheduled.
• It is likely there will not be enough CPE openings to accommodate every candidate’s reschedule, or scheduling, for 2020. The ECFVG is well aware of the hardship that the pandemic has caused for candidates and has asked the test sites if they can add extra test dates but extra dates, if any, will likely not be until 2021. Future openings will appear directly on your ECFVG Online page and can be applied to directly on the site. Please check back on your ECFVG Online page for cancellations that can be filled. Once we have the 2021 dates, for both sites, any remaining COVID-19 effected candidates NOT scheduled during the first 1-week priority period will be alerted and have a 1-week priority period to schedule 2021 dates.

Mississippi State University (MSU) does not have any updates currently. Any future cancellations by either site will be communicated to candidates via email and the ECFVG Announcement page.

Please check the ECFVG website for updates and be sure your email does not send ECFVGavma [dot] org emails to junk or spam as we will provide all updates via these two sources, so candidates do not have to call/email continuously and all effected are afforded equal opportunities.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work together through this challenging time. The COVID-19 situation has caused, and will continue to cause, great uncertainty for everyone into the foreseeable future. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your understanding.

April 23 – COVID-19: General announcement

The ECFVG is aware that examinees are scheduled to take Step 4 – Clinical Proficiency Exam (CPE) and of the importance of the examination to their future goals. However, given the necessity of close interaction between exam personnel and candidates during the administration of this exam, it is important to take the following precautionary steps to protect the health of examinees and test center staff.

CPE test cancellations
The CPE scheduled to be administered in June 2020 at WVC in Las Vegas is cancelled due to concerns related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

If your testing appointment is canceled as a result of the closure by a CPE site, you will be contacted by the ECFVG Staff who will advise you with details for rescheduling your appointment. Be sure your email does not send ECFVGavma [dot] org emails to junk or spam.

Upcoming CPE exams
The AVMA and ECFVG are closely monitoring the rapidly changing circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on travel and activities. As a result, it is not clear when the CPE will be available to candidates. Please check the ECFVG website and the candidate bulletin regularly for updates.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work together through this challenging time.

April 10 – Prometric’s COVID-19 update

Over the past several weeks, Prometric has closely monitored the ever-changing events associated with the spread of the COVID-19 virus in countries around the world, and has made decisions impacting our site and corporate operations based on ordinances from local, state, and federal governments, as well as recommendations from the CDC and WHO.

Early after the situation was officially characterized as a pandemic, Prometric made the difficult but necessary decision to close all Prometric test centers in the U.S. and Canada until April 16th. Based on updated information and after careful consideration, we have decided to extend the closure of test centers in the U.S. and Canada until May 1st.

All displaced test takers will receive an email notification that their appointment has been canceled prior to their scheduled test date, including instructions on next steps to reschedule their appointment if applicable.

March 30, 2020 – COVID-19: General announcement

The ECFVG is aware that examinees are scheduled to take Step 4 – Clinical Proficiency Exam (CPE) and of the importance of the examination to their future goals. However, given the necessity of close interaction between exam personnel and candidates during the administration of this exam, it is important to take the following precautionary steps to protect the health of examinees and test center staff.

CPE test cancellations
The CPE scheduled to be administered in May 2020 at WVC in Las Vegas is cancelled due to concerns related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

If your testing appointment is canceled as a result of the closure by a CPE site, you will be contacted by the ECFVG Staff who will advise you with details for rescheduling your appointment. Be sure your email does not send ECFVGavma [dot] org emails to junk or spam.

Upcoming CPE exams
The AVMA and ECFVG are closely monitoring the rapidly changing circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on travel and activities. As a result, it is not clear when the CPE will be available to candidates. Please check the ECFVG website and the candidate bulletin regularly for updates.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work together through this challenging time.

March 25, 2020 – ECFVG office

In response to the Illinois stay at home order, AVMA and ECFVG staff are working remotely and the AVMA's Schaumburg, Illinois, office is closed. We are making every effort to continue to respond to candidates in a timely manner. However, documentation processing times may be extended. Candidates should delay sending in documentation until the AVMA Schaumburg office reopens, if possible. Letters and packages are currently being received and held by the AVMA mailroom. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work together through this challenging time. Please keep safe and well.

March 19, 2020 – Prometric’s response to COVID-19

Prometric has determined it is necessary and appropriate to close our test centers in the United States and Canada for a period of 30 days, starting today on March 17. This dramatic step is necessary in order to comply with this new federal guidance as well as to further protect the health and well-being of the individual test takers and the staff that provide services at each of our testing locations. We anticipate re-opening our test centers effective April 16, however, please note that the specific date will be dependent on circumstances that are changing daily.

Prometric operations teams are actively reaching out to individuals with testing appointments today and throughout the closure period, in an effort to prevent them from unnecessarily appearing at the testing centers. We will be taking measures to reschedule those impacted appointments into a new date after the planned re-opening and will be communicating that information to the impacted individuals. We will work closely with the test takers to find new appointment dates and times that work for their schedules, and we will be waiving any rescheduling fees per our previously communicated policy. Our account management teams will work closely with you, our test sponsors, to ensure that our actions reflect your program requirements, such as individual eligibility status updates, examination windows, and other program policies.

Prometric will provide current information on our COVID-19 response and actions on our public website, www.prometric.com/corona-virus-update. We will update this website each time new information is available. The operating status of test centers in other locations can be found at this location.

March 19, 2020

The ECFVG is aware that examinees are scheduled to take Step 4 - Clinical Proficiency Exam (CPE) and of the importance of the examination to their future goals. However, given the necessity of close interaction between exam personnel and candidates during the administration of this exam, it is important to take the following precautionary steps to protect the health of examinees and test center staff.

CPE test cancellations
CPEs scheduled to be administered in April 2020 at WVC in Las Vegas and Mississippi State University (MSU) are cancelled due to concerns related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).

If your testing appointment is canceled as a result of the closure by a CPE site, you will be contacted by the ECFVG Staff who will advise you with details for rescheduling your appointment. Be sure your email does not send ECFVGavma [dot] org emails to junk or spam.

Upcoming CPE exams
The AVMA and ECFVG are closely monitoring the rapidly changing circumstances surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on travel and activities. As a result, it is not clear when the CPE will be available to candidates. Please check the ECFVG website and the candidate bulletin regularly for updates.

We appreciate your patience and understanding as we work together through this challenging time.

March 5, 2020: Notice regarding coronavirus (COVID-19)

At this time, there are no known issues related to coronavirus at ECFVG Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE) sites and all CPE administrations are proceeding as scheduled. The ECFVG is committed to protecting the welfare of candidates and CPE site personnel and will continue to monitor developments related to the coronavirus outbreak. Please check this announcement page frequently for any updates that might indicate a disruption in scheduled ECFVG activities.

The United States Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has issued travel notices for several countries in connection with the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak. For the most current information on affected countries, please see the CDC's updates.

If you reside in or have recently traveled to any country subject to a travel notice, or if you might have come in contact with anyone with suspected coronavirus infection, or if you have symptoms of respiratory infection within 14 days of your scheduled test date, you are strongly encouraged to contact the testing coordinator in the ecfvgavma [dot] org (ECFVG office) to reschedule your examination.

Please continue to check the ECFVG website for updates on the potential impact of coronavirus on ECFVG administrations.

Fee increase for full CPEs 2018 - 2020

Full CPE conduction fees will increase for the 2018 – 2020 years. Detailed information regarding the fee increases for the CPE can be found in the CPE Candidate Bulletin, specifically in the “Fees for the Full CPE” section.

Fee increase for BCSE - 2018

The examination fees for taking Step 3 of the program requirements – the Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination – will increase to $220. ECFVG candidates who register for the BCSE on or after January 1, 2018, will be required to register using the new fee structure. Candidates who register for the BCSE prior to January 1, 2018, irrespective of the actual date of their BCSE, will register at the old fee structure of $210 for BCSE registration.

Candidates impacted by executive order

ECFVG is aware of Executive Orders, signed by President Trump limiting the entry of certain foreign nationals to the United States. We are following developments related to these orders and continue to evaluate the impacts. If you are impacted by the executive orders, please contact ECFVG at ecfvgavma [dot] org directly.

Fee increase for full CPE - 2017

Full CPE fees conducted after July 1, 2017 will increase by $200. Detailed information regarding the fee increases for the CPE can be found in the CPE Candidate Bulletin, specifically in the “Fees for the Full CPE” section.

Addition of an administrative fee

An administrative fee will be added to the cost associated with taking full CPE and CPE section retakes starting with the 2017 administrations. Detailed information regarding these increases for the CPE can be found in the CPE Candidate Bulletin, specifically in the “Fees for the Full CPE” and the “CPE Retakes and Associated Fees” sections.

Updated BCSE four month retake timeframe

New policy for rescheduling a full CPE or retake section