US licensing runs through the NAVLE and the state veterinary boards (the US degree is a four-year post-graduate DVM). UK graduates of AVMA-COE-accredited UK schools skip credential assessment and go straight to the NAVLE plus state requirements. Other UK graduates first complete ECFVG (AVMA — four steps: credentials, English, the BCSE knowledge exam, the CPE practical) or PAVE (AAVSB — accepted in most but not all states, and now recognised in all Canadian provinces too). Expect 2–4 years end-to-end. The set of AVMA-accredited UK schools and current exam fees must be confirmed against the canonical AVMA and ICVA lists before relying on them.
Sources & verification
- US domestic licensing is NAVLE then state board; UK graduates of AVMA-COE-accredited UK schools skip ECFVG/PAVE and go straight to NAVLE plus state requirements — source, verified 2026-06-12
- UK graduates without an AVMA-accredited degree take ECFVG (4 steps: credentials, English, BCSE knowledge exam, CPE practical) or PAVE (accepted in most-but-not-all states; recognised in all Canadian provinces); expect 2–4 years — source, verified 2026-06-12
Verified reference information — not professional, medical, legal or careers advice. Regulations change; always check the cited primary source before relying on it.