Steps of the ECFVG Certification Program

ECFVG Policies and Procedures

January 2023

• Step 1 — Registration and Proof of Graduation
• Step 2 — English Language Ability
• Step 3 — Basic and Clinical Sciences Knowledge
• Step 4 — Clinical Skills Assessment

Step 1 — Registration and Proof of Graduation

To register in the ECFVG certification program, an applicant must complete the online application and submit the payment of $1,400.00 (USD; $675.00 ECFVG program application fee; $725.00 ECFVG Quality Assurance Program [QAP] fee). This payment can be made by credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express) online at the end of the application. Payment can also be submitted to the ECFVG office as a personal check from a US bank only, or by cashier's check or money order made payable to the AVMA. Candidates must also submit the following to the ECFVG office within 7 business days of submitting the online application:

1. A completed and notarized ECFVG confirmation page available at the end of the online application.
2. Two photographs (passport size).
   1. One photograph (passport size) affixed to application indicated space and MUST BE INCLUDED UNDER A PORTION OF THE NOTARIAL SEAL OR the STAMP OF THE VETERINARY COLLEGE OR CONSULAR OFFICIAL. Otherwise, the application will not be accepted.The applicant will be required to resubmit the application.
   2. One additional identical photograph (passport size).
3. As proof of graduation from an AVMA ECFVG®-listed veterinary medical college, certified, notarized, photocopies or official (issued directly by school) of the applicant's veterinary college diploma and final transcripts (for each year of study), both in the language of issuance and as a certified English translation. (CERTIFIED, NOTARIZED, OR OFFICIAL PHOTOCOPIES ONLY-DO NOT SEND ORIGINALS). AVMA will not be responsible for returning originals to you. AVMA will not be responsible for lost or destroyed originals. Provisional Certificates and Certificates of Graduation are unacceptable for ECFVG program purposes.
   1. If the applicant is a final-year student at an AVMA ECFVG®-listed veterinary college, transcripts, as described above, for those years of study completed and a letter from an official of the veterinary college stating that the applicant will graduate within the year must be submitted with the ECFVG application form. After graduating from the AVMA ECFVG®-listed veterinary college, such candidates will need to submit certified, notarized, or official (issued directly by school) photocopies of their veterinary college diploma and final transcripts before Step 1 can be considered complete.

All items must be sent to: ECFVG, American Veterinary Medical Association, 1931 N Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173-4360, USA.

Refunds: The $675.00 ECFVG program application fee is nonrefundable. However, if a candidate wishes to withdraw from the ECFVG certification program within 60 days after initially applying, the $725.00 ECFVG Quality Assurance Program (QAP) fee will be refunded upon request to the ECFVG office. Requests must be done online through ECFVG Online (the online candidate database) or by written request. No fees will be refunded for withdrawal requests received more than 60 days after initially applying to the program.

Re-registration: The original registration fee is valid for two years. To remain active in the program, candidates must re-register every two years by notifying the ECFVG and paying a $120.00 re-registration fee. Candidates will be notified 60 days prior to their re-registration deadline by email and through their online status. Files of candidates who do not re-register in the ECFVG certification program will be made inactive. An inactive file may be reactivated within eight years upon the written request of the candidate and payment of all past-due re-registration fees. Inactive candidate files older than eight years will be destroyed. Future entrance into the ECFVG certification program would require new registration according to guidelines currently in effect.

Verification of educational credentials: The ECFVG verifies all applicants' educational credentials. The ECFVG Coordinator sends a "certification of graduation" form (Appendix 1) with the applicant's photograph to the dean of the veterinary college from which the applicant graduated. The dean or other college official must verify the applicant's identification and graduation date and return the completed form with the college seal affixed to the ECFVG office. Applicants may proceed with Steps 2 and 3 of the certification program while verification is being obtained. However, Step 1 will not be considered completed until such verification is obtained, and applicants will not be eligible to apply for Step 4 of the certification program (the CPE) until Steps 1, 2, and 3 are completed. The time required to verify Step 1 credentials of a candidate is variable and depends on school, country or language of communication. Sometimes, it may take a long time – weeks, perhaps, even months or longer -- to receive the necessary information about individual candidates. Candidates interested in registering for the ECFVG certification program should plan well in advance as the time required for some aspects of the certification process is beyond the control of ECFVG.

Surgical Experience Documentation: Please note that, candidates who enrolled into the ECFVG program on or after July 1, 2014, will be eligible to register for the full CPE only when the required documentation is received in its entirety in the ECFVG office and processed by ECFVG staff. Please see this link to the CPE Candidate Bulletin for further information.

Once enrolled, candidates can make address, telephone numbers, or E-mail address changes through ECFVG Online (the online candidate database). Name changes are not able to be completed online. Candidate name changes must be submitted in writing along with a copy of appropriate notarized legal documents.

Step 2 — English Language Ability

To complete Step 2, candidates must provide the ECFVG with proof of comprehension and ability to communicate in the English language by meeting the minimum requirements established by the ECFVG on one of the following assessment tools: the TOEFL internet-based test (TOEFL iBT), the IELTS, the CAEL Assessment, or Waiver policy. Scores from multiple scores reports cannot be combined. There are no exceptions to this policy.

TOEFL iBT
The TOEFL iBT is offered by Educational Testing Service (ETS P.O. Box 6151, Princeton, NJ 08541; Web site: www.toefl.org; telephone: 609-771-7100). Candidates must contact ETS for information regarding the TOEFL iBT, including dates and location of examinations, fees, and application procedures.

For ECFVG program purposes, candidates choosing to take the TOEFL iBT MUST take each subsection of the TOEFL iBT. The minimum required scores on the TOEFL iBT are 25 in listening, 22 in writing, 22 in speaking, and 23 in reading; no minimum overall score is required. The ECFVG requires original score reports directly from ETS. All candidates MUST pass all sections of the TOEFL iBT in a single examination administration.

The ECFVG requires original score reports directly from ETS; copies are not acceptable. Please use institution code 1212 when requesting score reports from ETS. Because ETS only maintains score reports for two years from the date of examination, candidates should plan accordingly to ensure that score reports do not expire before requesting that they be submitted to the ECFVG. Score reports longer than two years from the date of examination are no longer valid and will not be accepted by the ECFVG office. Score reports for individuals who are not currently enrolled in the ECFVG certification program are not accepted or held in the ECFVG office. Once the score report is accepted, it will remain valid as long as the candidate remains actively enrolled in the ECFVG program. For candidates enrolled in the ECFVG program on or after January 1, 2015, please read the Time Between Steps requirements.

International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) is administered by the University of Cambridge Local Examinations Syndicate, the British Council, and IDE Education Australia. For information in North America, contact IELTS Inc at 825 Colorado Boulevard, Suite 112, Los Angeles, CA 90041 (Web site: www.ielts.org; telephone: 323-255-2771). The ECFVG requires original score reports directly from IELTS Inc.

For ECFVG program purposes, candidates choosing to take the IELTS MUST take the academic IELTS. The minimum required score on the academic IELTS is 6.5 (overall band score), with at least a 6.5 in the listening band, a 6.0 in the writing band, and a 7.0 in the speaking band; no minimum reading score is required. All candidates MUST pass all sections of the academic IELTS in a single examination administration.

The ECFVG requires original score reports directly from IELTS Inc.; copies are not acceptable. Because IELTS Inc. only maintains score reports for two years from the date of examination, candidates should plan accordingly to ensure that score reports do not expire before requesting that they be submitted to the ECFVG. Score reports longer than two years from the date of examination are no longer valid and will not be accepted by the ECFVG office. Score reports for individuals who are not currently enrolled in the ECFVG certification program are not accepted or held in the ECFVG office. Once the score report is accepted, it will remain valid as long as the candidate remains actively enrolled in the ECFVG program. For candidates enrolled in the ECFVG program on or after January 1, 2015, please read the Time Between Steps requirements.

Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL)
The Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Assessment is administered by Paragon Testing Enterprises, a subsidiary of The University of British Columbia. Please contact the CAEL Assessment Testing Office, 110-2925 Virtual Way, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada V5M 4X5 (Web site: www.cael.ca; telephone: within Vancouver: 604-674-8664; toll-free within North America 855-520-2235).

For ECFVG program purposes, candidates choosing to take the CAEL Assessment MUST take each subsection of the CAEL Assessment. The minimum required score on the CAEL Assessment is 60 (overall score), with at least a 60 in the listening band, a 50 in the writing band, and a 60 in the speaking band. All candidates MUST pass all required sections of the CAEL Assessment in a single examination administration.

The ECFVG requires original score reports directly from the CAEL Assessment Testing Office; copies are not acceptable. Because CAEL only maintains score reports for two years from the date of examination, candidates should plan accordingly to ensure that score reports do not expire before requesting that they be submitted to the ECFVG. Score reports longer than two years from the date of examination are no longer valid and will not be accepted by the ECFVG office. Score reports for individuals who are not currently enrolled in the ECFVG certification program are not accepted or held in the ECFVG office. Once the score report is accepted, it will remain valid as long as the candidate remains actively enrolled in the ECFVG program. For candidates enrolled in the ECFVG program on or after January 1, 2015, please read the Time Between Steps requirements.

Waiver Policy
For candidates completing secondary school in the United States, United Kingdom (England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland), Australia, New Zealand, or Canada (except Quebec), the English language examinations may be waived. To do so, eligible candidates must provide documentation of at least three years full-time attendance at a secondary (high) school located in one of the above countries at which the complete language of instruction was English. Acceptable documentation includes a letter directly from school officials stating dates of attendance (month and year of both initial and final dates of attendance are required) and verifying that the complete language of instruction was English or, for graduates of US high schools only, a certified, notarized, or official copy of the final transcript. A degree from an English-speaking college or university is not considered adequate proof of English language ability.

Step 3 — Basic and Clinical Sciences Knowledge

All candidates who enroll into the ECFVG program on or after January 1, 2014 must attain a passing score on the Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination (BCSE) in order to complete Step 3 of the ECFVG certification program. Candidates who enrolled prior to January 1, 2014, and have taken the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) during the April 2007 or prior administrations ONLY, or the National Board Examination (NBE) and Clinical Competency Test (CCT) prior to year 2000 may be eligible to use successful score reports from those prior examinations to complete ECFVG Step 3.

Candidates will be notified by e-mail and through ECFVG Online (the online candidate database) of their eligibility to apply for the Step 3 examination. Please note that candidates only become eligible to apply for and take the BCSE upon successful completion of ECFVG Step 2.

The AVMA owns and administers the BCSE, a computer-based examination, lasting approximately four hours and consisting of 225 questions, designed to help assess basic and clinical veterinary sciences knowledge. Complete information on the BCSE, including application procedures, rescheduling rules, rules of conduct, and testing accommodations, can be found in the BCSE Candidate Bulletin. All candidates must review this document before taking the BCSE.

The Canadian National Examining Board (NEB; http://www.canadianveterinarians.net/) also uses the BCSE as part of its certification program. NEB candidates must register for the BCSE through the NEB office; score reports for NEB candidates will also be through the NEB office. Both ECFVG and NEB candidates may reserve only a single testing seat per BCSE application, regardless through which agency that single testing seat is reserved.

For ECFVG candidates taking the BCSE, scores will automatically be entered into candidate files; a passing score will result in completion of ECFVG Step 3 and successful candidates will then be notified of their eligibility to apply for ECFVG Step 4, the Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE). Both passing and failing BCSE scores will also be reported directly to candidates by the Testing Manager via e-mail and through ECFVG Online (the online candidate database). BCSE scores will not be available to candidates via telephone.

For ECFVG candidates who enrolled into the ECFVG program prior to January 1, 2014 and who have successfully completed the NAVLE during or prior to the April 2007 administration or the NBE and CCT prior to 2000, the ECFVG requires original NAVLE or NBE/CCT score reports directly from the Veterinary Information Verifying Agency (VIVA) of the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). NAVLE and NBE/CCT scores are ONLY reported to the ECFVG at the request of the ECFVG candidate. Requests for score transfers must be directed to the VIVA, 380 W. 22nd Street, Suite 101, Kansas City, MO 64108 (E-mail: vivaaavsb [dot] org; telephone: 816-931-1504, ext. 23; Web site: www.aavsb.org/VIVA/). The ECFVG office will notify each applicant when his/her scores have been received. Again, VIVA will not report scores to the ECFVG without a request from the candidate, and the ECFVG will consider Step 3 complete only on receipt of a score report from VIVA indicating a passing score on the NAVLE (April 2007 and previous administrations only) or the NBE and CCT (prior to spring 2000) for those candidates who enrolled into the ECFVG program prior to January 1, 2014.

CQ (Certificate of Qualification) holders who enrolled after January 1, 2014 and had taken the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) during the April 2007 or prior administrations ONLY, or the National Board Examination (NBE) and Clinical Competency Test (CCT) prior to year 2000 are eligible to use successful score reports from those prior examinations to complete ECFVG Step 3 of the certification program.

ECFVG candidate addresses listed on Step 3 examination score reports (BCSE, NAVLE or NBE/CCT) that vary from the address on record must be explained in writing, listing both the old and new address, before ECFVG can record and acknowledge receipt of the score report. Therefore, it is important that all candidates provide the ECFVG office with address updates as soon as possible. Address changes must be made through ECFVG Online or in writing.

For information regarding the NAVLE, which is a licensing examination, please contact the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA), PO Box 1356, Bismarck, ND 58502 (Web site: https://www.icva.net/; telephone: 701-224-0332).

Surgery Documentation Requirement
In addition, candidates who enroll into the ECFVG program on or after July 1, 2014, must submit validated Surgical Experience Documentation forms as proof of having performed, in the five-year period prior to candidate's CPE, at least one (1) ovariohysterectomy as the primary surgeon and at least five (5) additional surgical procedures as either the primary or the assistant surgeon. The 5 additional procedures may be ovariohysterectomies or other surgical procedures, but each documented surgery should involve all elements of an aseptic surgical procedure, including gowning & gloving, draping of the patient, and use of sterile instrumentation. Validation of surgery experience can be provided by one or more veterinarians licensed to practice veterinary medicine in any international jurisdiction. Please note that, candidates who enrolled into the ECFVG program on or after July 1, 2014, will be eligible to register for the full CPE only when the required documentation is received in its entirety in the ECFVG office and processed by ECFVG staff. The ECFVG reserves the right to verify the documents received. Candidates are reminded that falsification of documents would be a violation of the Rules of Conduct and can resolve in disciplinary actions up to and including dismissal from the program. Candidates who successfully fulfill this eligibility requirement will be notified of their Step 4 eligibility by e-mail and will be able to register and apply for CPE through ECFVG Online.

This CPE eligibility requirement does not apply to candidates enrolled in the ECFVG program prior to July 1, 2014. However, the ECFVG strongly recommends that all candidates have the experience described above prior to attempting the surgical section of the CPE.

Step 4 — Clinical Skills Assessment

To complete Step 4, candidates must attain a passing score on all sections of the Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE); only the CPE approved by the ECFVG will meet the requirements for assessment of clinical skills.

The CPE is a 3-day, 7-section, hands-on clinical skills examination, administered by the faculty of a college of veterinary medicine or other authorized testing institution. The skill level expected for a passing grade on each of the 7 sections of the CPE is that of an entry-level graduate of an accredited veterinary college. Only well-prepared candidates will be able to pass the CPE.

Complete information on the CPE, including format, eligibility requirements, fee structure, application procedures, scoring, location of approved sites, rescheduling, rules of conduct, and testing accommodations, can be found in the CPE Candidate Bulletin. All candidates are encouraged to read this document to understand the CPE eligibility and application process.

Please note that candidates only become eligible to apply for and take the CPE after ECFVG Steps 1, 2, and 3 are successfully completed.

Please refer to the CPE Candidate Bulletin for complete details regarding the CPE application process and fee structure.

The Canadian National Examining Board (NEB; http://www.canadianveterinarians.net/) also uses the CPE as part of its certification program. NEB candidates must register for the CPE through the NEB office; CPE score reports for NEB candidates will also be through the NEB office. Both ECFVG and NEB candidates may only reserve a single full or retake CPE position at any one time, regardless through which agency that single testing seat is reserved.