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Veterinarian

OCCUPATION INFORMATION YOU NEED TO KNOW:

 

Who is the licensing body responsible for Veterinarians in Alberta?

In Alberta, you must be registered with the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA) to practice as a Veterinarian. Only DVM or equivalent registered members may call themselves Veterinarians. 

What are the licensure requirements for internationally educated Veterinarians?

If graduating from a school accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education, Internationally educated Veterinarians must:

  1. Have written and obtained a passing score in the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE).
  2. Have received a Certificate of Qualification from the National Examining Board (NEB) of the CVMA.
  3. Complete and submit an application form, and comply with all registration requirements of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association.

If graduating from a school not accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education, Internationally educated Veterinarians must:

  1. Have graduated from a professional degree program in veterinary medicine recognized by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA).
  2. Have received a Certificate of Qualification from the National Examining Board (NEB) of the CVMA.  This will require the writing of three examinations:
    1. Basic Clinical and Sciences Exam (BCSE).
    2. NAVLE
    3. Clinical Proficiency Exam (CPE)
  3. Complete and submit an application form, and comply with all registration requirements of the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association.

Temporary Registration   


Temporary registration is available for Veterinarians working towards a Certificate of Qualification.

Candidates must have passed the BCSE and the NAVLE, and be accepted to take the CPE towards the Certificate of Qualification. Temporary members are required to be appropriately supervised daily by an ABVMA registered veterinarian member in order to practice veterinary medicine. Upon completion of the Certificate of Qualification, the applicant would be eligible to apply for a General Practice License. Temporary registration is granted in 3-month intervals available for a maximum of 24 months.


Limited Registration   


In some employment situations, there is an opportunity for International Veterinary Graduates to qualify for a Limited License at an earlier stage in the examination sequence than required for a Temporary License. The candidate must have been accepted into the exam sequence for a Certificate of Qualification. Limited Registration is granted with individual consideration of the person’s credentials and the proposed employment activity. Supervision is defined accordingly.

A member registered in this circumstance may practice for a period of not more than 6 months, which period may be extended by the Registration Committee upon the receipt of a written request for one or more further periods totaling not more than 18 additional months.  Direct contact with the ABVMA office is suggested prior to application.

 

What is the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) and National Examining Board?

http://canadianveterinarians.net/

The Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) is the national body representing the interests of the veterinary profession in Canada. The National Examining Board (NEB) is a board of the CVMA established to administer the NEB Examinations. 

Graduates of a veterinary school not accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Education are required to complete all three parts of the examination sequence in order to receive a Certificate of Qualification. The veterinary licensing examination process for graduates of non-accredited veterinary schools involves three examinations:

  1. The Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination (BCSE)
  2. The North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE); and
  3. The Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE).

A graduate of an accredited college of veterinary medicine need only pass the NAVLE within two attempts in order to receive a Certificate of Qualification. However, if such a candidate requires more than two attempts to complete the NAVLE, they will also be required to complete the CPE. All North American Veterinary colleges are currently accredited.

International accredited schools include:                                                                                             
Australia - University of Sydney, Murdoch University, University of Melbourne                                                                             
The Netherlands - State University of Utrecht                                                                                                    
New Zealand - Massey University College of Sciences                                                                                               
England - University of London                                                                                      
Scotland - The University of Edinburgh, University of Glasgow                                                                                                  
Ireland – University College, Dublin

Mexico – Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico

West Indies – Ross University

To become a candidate of the NEB, you must request an application package (for a fee) from the CVMA website. The package includes an application form, a list of the documents to be submitted and a booklet that explains the exam process in detail.

 

What are the accepted English language proficiency tests and where can I be tested?

Applicants must also provide proof of English Language fluency by one of the accepted testing assessments listed below.

  • Internet Based Test of English as a Foreign Language (IBTOEFL)
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
  • Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL)
  • Exam of French of the Office de la langue française of the Government of Quebec, with a score of no less than 60 for each component.

Note: a score report for one of the accepted language proficiency examinations cannot be more than two years old.

To learn more about where to take an English language proficiency test in Alberta, visit English Language Proficiency Tests and Locations.  

 

Where can I take the National Examining Board Exams?

The BCSE is available four times per year and is administered at Prometric Inc. test centre. Visit for testing information.

The CPE is available ten times per year at the five Canadian colleges of veterinary medicine. The NAVLE is offered in April and November/ December of each year at a Prometric Inc. test centre. Applicants are encouraged to be aware of registration deadlines, examination criteria, exam fee, exam frequency and the turnaround time for exam results. Candidates who successfully complete the NEB examination process are granted a Certificate of Qualification which is a prerequisite to obtain a veterinary license in all the provinces of Canada.

What are the educational requirements for Veterinarians in Alberta?

(Note: Licensing bodies compare international education and experience to Canadian standards)

Prospective veterinarians must complete at least two years of university studies followed by a four year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program. Most applicants for DVM programs have completed more than two years of university work in a related faculty such as science or agriculture. The entrance requirements for these programs vary from one institution and program to another.

In Canada, four year DVM degree programs are offered at the:

Additional Occupational Information

For more information on occupational duties and wages, visit the Alberta Learning Information Service at www.alis.gov.ab.ca and search for Veterinarians under occupational information.

What information resources are available for Veterinarians in Alberta?

Alberta Veterinary Medical Association (ABVMA) website: http://www.abvma.ca

Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) website: http://canadianveterinarians.net