The NAVLE (North American Veterinary Licensing Examination) is the most important test in a veterinary student’s career—but too many candidates are being unfairly set up to fail. We're calling for an independent, third-party review of the NAVLE to ensure it is fair, transparent, and clinically relevant.

 
Why This Matters:
Veterinary students spend years preparing to become licensed professionals. The NAVLE should reflect that hard work and accurately assess real-world readiness. Instead, many of us are faced with:

• Confusing and poorly written questions that don’t reflect current veterinary practice
• Blurry or low-quality diagnostic images that make accurate interpretation impossible
• Content that doesn’t match the published blueprint, leaving students unprepared
• No meaningful feedback when a student fails—only silence and a retest fee
• Questionable answer choices with no justification or review transparency
• Steep financial consequences for each retake, disproportionately affecting students from lower-income backgrounds

We are not asking to eliminate the NAVLE—we believe in the importance of licensing standards. But high-stakes exams should be challenging, scientifically valid, clear, and aligned with real clinical medicine.

What We’re Asking For:
We call on the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) and associated licensing authorities to:

1. Commission an independent, third-party audit of the NAVLE
2. Publicly release the audit findings
3. Include veterinary students, clinicians, and educators in future exam reviews and reform

Take Action:
Sign this petition to demand a fairer, more transparent NAVLE. Together, we can push for a veterinary licensing process that reflects the integrity of our profession—and gives every qualified student a real chance to succeed.