Education Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG)

(Revised February 2008)

The ECFVG runs a certification program for foreign veterinary graduates wishing to practice in the United States. This is in addition to the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) and State Board examinations or licensing requirements which all aspiring veterinarians must have. Both the ECFVG and American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) encourage candidates to check with the authority in their relevant state since requirements can change regularly. St. George’s University School of Veterinary Medicine (SGUSVM) urges you all to do so.

The ECFVG certificate is recognized in all states, but is not required by New York for SGU graduates.

What does certification entail?

For up-to-date information the candidate is encouraged to check the AVMA website under ECFVG where deadlines and costs are displayed.

Basically the process consists of 4 steps:

• Enrollment via the AVMA (www.avma.org). Proof of graduation (diploma and final transcript) from an AVMA-listed school of veterinary medicine (SGUSVM is listed) is needed before final certification. However enrollment can take place during your final clinical year since you must be enrolled (in ECFVG or PAVE) before taking the NAVLE.

• Provide proof of command of English (non-native speakers must provide passing scores on the TOEFL or IELTS examinations). For native speakers (from countries where the common language is English) documentation of 3 years attendance at an English-language high school will suffice.

• Passing of the Basic and Clinical Sciences examination (BCSE) which is a 4 hour 200 question computer based MCQ examination

• Passing of the Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE). This can at present be taken at several centers (schools plus the dedicated Las Vegas site), but not the school of your final clinical year. In future Las Vegas will probably be the only site. Canadian CPE is accepted south of the border.

• All states and Canadian provinces accept ECFVG certification.

• For SGUSVM graduates, New York does not require the ECFVG or PAVE programs, only the NAVLE pass and DVM diploma and an application. However to get the NAVLE one must enroll in the ECFVG or PAVE programs except for California which does not accept ECFVG candidates for NAVLE.
• Some states will allow temporary licensure with conditions (such as supervision) whilst the candidate is enrolled in the ECFVG program and is awaiting the CPE.

Consult the websites for these regulations

How much does ECFVG certification cost?

(not counting postage, travel to testing sites, accommodation, meals, etc.)

For up-to-date information the candidate is encouraged to check the AVMA website under ECFVG where deadlines and costs are displayed.

a) Initial registration (valid for 2 years) is                                                    $  275

            One-off fee for Quality Assurance Program                                    $  725

                        (re-registration for subsequent 2 years $100)

b) English examinations (depends on testing service)                                $  150

c) Basic Clinical Sciences Examination                                                   $    75

d) Clinical Proficiency Examination                                                          $5,000

When and where can the BCSE examination be taken?

The 220-minute, 225-item, electronic test can be taken at Thompson Prometric centers once ECFVG authorization has been obtained. For the subject spread and question distribution see the ECFVG portion of the AVMA website.

Testing windows (& deadlines):

March 1-15 2008 (January 15 2008)                      May 1-15 2008 (April 15 2008)

August 1-15 2008 (June 15 2008)                          Dec 1-8 2008 (October 15 2008)

Approximate content:

BCSE (225 questions – 25 not scored as trial items)                                                                            

Anatomy                                                                          18-22 questions

Pharmacology, Physiology, Toxicology                              24-28 questions

Pathology (inc Clinical Pathology, Pathophysiology)           22-26 questions

Medicine (including Dentistry)                                           42-50 questions

Principles of Surgery (inc Anesthesia)                               34-38 questions

Diagnostics (inc diagnostic techniques and imaging)          26-30 questions

Preventive Medicine (inc Epidemiology, Animal Welfare, nutrition, public health, regulatory programs)

                                                                                     18-22 questions

CPE

Anesthesia                                                  Clinical & Anatomic Pathology

Equine Practice                                           Food Animal Practice                                 

Small Animal Practice                                  Radiology                                                      

Surgery

WEBSITES

www.avma.org (links to other sites and to ECFVG)

www.nbvme.org (for NAVLE information)

www.aavsb.org (for PAVE and state information)