Licensing Requirements

Applicants must graduate from an American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)-accredited school. An official transcript with degree and date posted must be received directly from applicant's program. Transcripts not in English must have an official translation. Applicants from a non-accredited school must complete either the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) program or Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE).

If you are an exam applicant and your transcripts are not yet available, you will be considered for approval to take the examination on submission of a letter from your program director. The letter must state your current enrollment and expected date of graduation. Your license, however, will not be issued until an official transcript has been received.

Applicants must pass the National Board Examination or the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE). Scores are verified by the appropriate organization or agency.

The North American Veterinarian Licensing Examination (NAVLE) is held twice each year. These dates can be viewed at the International Council for Veterinary Assessment Web site at: www.icva.net.

The following is required for authorization to take the NAVLE examination:

• Complete and submit an NAVLE examination registration application and fee directly to ICVA.
• Complete and submit a veterinarian license application and initial license fee directly to Washington state. 
• Washington state veterinarian license application must include copy of receipt verifying payment for NAVLE, no later than 60 days prior to the posted NAVLE examination cut-off date.
• NAVLE will notify successful candidates of their authorization to take the examination.

If you are an exam applicant and your transcripts are not yet available, you will be considered for approval to take the examination on submission of a letter from your program director. The letter must state your current enrollment and expected date of graduation. Your license, however, will not be issued until an official transcript has been received.

Washington State Jurisprudence Examination - The state jurisprudence examination is a state law and rule, mail-home/open book examination. This exam will be provided after initial application and state exam fees are received. You must obtain a 90 percent score on the state examination. There are 50 questions, and each question is worth two points.

Applicants must list all states where they do or did hold credentials. This list must also include when the applicant has applied for a credential, even if a credential was not granted. The jurisdiction where the applicant is or was credentialed must complete and submit the verification form. The jurisdiction must send the completed form directly to the department.

• Credential Verification Form (PDF)

Each applicant must answer the personal data questions. If there is a positive answer to the professional liability claims history question, the applicant must send an explanation of the nature of the case, data and summary of care given, copies of the original complaint, and the settlement or final disposition. If a case is pending, applicant must indicate status.

Successful completion of the Washington State Jurisprudence Examination. The state jurisprudence examination is a state law and rule, mail-home/open book examination. This exam will be provided after initial application and state exam fees are received. You must obtain a 90 percent score on the state examination. There are 50 questions, and each question is worth two points.

Veterinarians must complete a minimum of 30 hours of continuing every two years in order to renew their license. See WAC 246-933-401 through WAC 246-933-460 for continuing education requirements. Live, Web-based courses are not subject to an hour limitation as long as they occur in real time, attendees receive written or verbal responses their questions, and other veterinarians are able to participate at the same time.