Process of Veterinary Licensing Examinations for Indian Veterinary Graduates to Work in USA, UK and Canada.
Indian Veterinary Science Graduates and Students will find this article to be of use. Here, you will be reading about Veterinary Licensing examinations held in foreign Countries. It is a well known fact that career prospects of Veterinary Science Graduates would be better abroad, when compared to the prospects in India. Similarly, when it comes to further studies, pursuing relevant PG course abroad is much more beneficial. Indian Veterinary Graduates will have better prospect in Nations like USA, UK and Canada.
In case of the Countries mentioned above, Veterinary professionals are given more importance as well as pay package. When it comes to Advanced studies, facilities and faculty present in Universities there are of unparalleled quality.
To start practice in Countries like USA, UK and Canada, Indian Veterinary Graduates must go through and successfully clear the Licensing Examinations. In case of USA, UK and Canada, the relevant Licensing Examinations are- Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG), Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) and NAVLE (North American Veterinary Licensing Examination).
Let us check out each Licensing exam and find important details about them.
1 ECFVG
ECFVG stands for Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates. It is a Certification program held by the American Veterinary Medical Association. This certification program will help Graduates of Non-Accredited Veterinary Schools get certification. This certification is accepted by all Licensing boards, when a Graduate applies for Licensure. This certification will help Veterinary Graduates build a career in USA (it is accepted in all 50 states)!
ECFVG certification program is made up of 4 steps. The first step is all about verification of credentials. A candidate will have to show that he/she is a Veterinary Graduate from a Recognized (but non AVMA accredited) Veterinary School.
Second step consists of English Proficiency test.
Third step consists of basic and clinical sciences examination.
Last and final step consists of 3 and a half days long Clinical Proficiency Examination.
Note: Candidates who are planning to appear for NAVLE Examination must possess ECFVG/PAVE Certificate to be considered eligible to apply!
2 PAVE
PAVE stands for Program for Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence. This certification program is held by American Association of Veterinary State Boards. This certification program is of help in certifying Graduates from Non-Accredited Veterinary Schools. This certification is accepted in Countries like- USA (41 States/Territories), Australia and New Zealand. Indian Veterinary Graduates, who want to build a rewarding career in the above mentioned Countries may make use of this examination. Graduates who are planning to appear for NAVLE examination must possess one of the following certifications- ECFVG/PAVE.
PAVE certification program is made up of 4 steps.
The first step is all about verification of credentials.
Second step consists of English Proficiency test.
Third step is a Qualifying examination, which is used to assess the candidate’s knowledge of basic science topics.
Last step is the Clinical Proficiency Test.
This can be done by either completing at least 12 months of evaluated clinical experience at an accredited Veterinary school or by passing VCSA (Veterinary Clinical Skills Assessment) examination. VCSA examination has been designed and developed by NBVME (National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners).
3 NAVLE
NAVLE stands for North American Veterinary Licensing Examination. Certifications like ECFVG and PAVE will make Veterinary Graduates from non accredited Veterinary schools to appear for NAVLE examination. USA and Canada recognize NAVLE certification. To build careers in these countries, Indian Veterinary Graduates may make use of this examination. In case of practicing veterinary science in Canada, an applicant has to apply directly to NEB (Canadian National Examination Board).
To be eligible for fellowships and practice as a veterinary doctor one needs to be registered with AVMA. No Indian Vet school is AVMA accredited. But most of them are listed, AVMA ECFVG-listed schools are not accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (AVMA COE).
AVMA accredited: are the colleges in the United States and Canada and foreign colleges (colleges outside the US and Canada) evaluated by the AVMA Council on Education(AVMA COE)and found to meet accreditation standards .
AVMA ECFVG-listed: A foreign college recognized by the World Health Organization or the government of its own country, whose graduates are eligible to practice in that country, graduates of such colleges like India need to qualify the entrance conducted by Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) certification program
https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2020-06/ecfvg12.pdf
An Indian Veterinary Graduate will essentially need to go through the ECFVG certification program .
The ECFVG certification program consists of the following four steps (broadly suggested here) designed to be completed in order.
Step 1: Enroll, provide proof of graduation, and verify veterinary college credentials.
A prospective candidate must be a graduate of, or a final-year student at, an AVMA ECFVG-listed veterinary school. To enroll, submit an online application along with a signed and notarized confirmation page; all necessary documentation; and required fees to the ECFVG office. The ECFVG will verify your credentials directly with the school from which you graduated.
Step 2: Assess English language ability.
Candidates must successfully complete one of three standard English language assessments accepted by the ECFVG.
IELTS,TOEFL etc .
Step 3: Assess basic and clinical veterinary science knowledge.
Candidates must successfully complete the ECFVG-specific Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination (BCSE), which is a 225-question, computer-based assessment of basic and clinical veterinary sciences knowledge.
*DOCUMENTATION OF SURGICAL EXPERIENCE
Candidates who enroll in 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 (taking step 4 i.e) the date of the Clinical Proficiency Exam (CPE), at least one ovariohysterectomy as the primary surgeon, and at least five additional surgical procedures as either the primary or assistant surgeon
Step 4: Assess hands-on clinical veterinary medical skills.
Candidates must successfully complete the Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE) to complete the program and achieve certification. The CPE is a multi-day, multi-section postgraduate assessment of hands-on clinical veterinary medical skills. It covers entry-level skills in both large and small animal species, as well as laboratory and other diagnostic practices.
State veterinary licenses are issued by the veterinary regulatory board or licensure entity within each state. Therefore, each state determines its specific prerequisites for licensure eligibility and requirements for licensure.
The majority of states require graduates of non-AVMA accredited veterinary schools to hold an ECFVG certificate to meet, either in full or in part, the state-mandated educational prerequisite for licensure eligibility. 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.
Please note that ECFVG certification does not equate with state licensure. ECFVG certificate holders must still complete all state licensure requirements, including passing the national licensure examination (which is currently the NAVLE ) administered through the International Council for Veterinary Assessment and any state-specific examinations. AVMA accredited college students also need to go through NAVLE before becoming licensed veterinarians in USA
State veterinary licenses
To work as a private-practice clinical veterinarian in the United States, you will need a state veterinary license for each state in which you will practice veterinary medicine – this is in addition to your veterinary degree or educational equivalency certificate. Each state has different rules and prerequisites for licensure.
Reference-https://www.avma.org/education/foreign/information-foreign-veterinary-graduates-working-veterinarian-us
https://www.apnaahangout.com/veterinary-licensing-examinations-to-work
