Veterinary Medicine
Veterinarian Licensure Requirements
General Requirements
Any use of the title "Veterinarian" or practice of veterinary medicine in New York State requires licensure. However, under specified limitations defined in Section 6705 of the New York State Education Law you may be exempt from licensure.
To be licensed as a veterinarian in New York State you must:
- be of good moral character;
- be at least 21 years of age;
- meet education, examination, and experience requirements; and
- be a United States citizen or an alien lawfully admitted for permanent residence in the United States (USCIS I-551 Status/"Green Card").
Submit an application for licensure and the other forms indicated, along with the appropriate fee, to the Office of the Professions at the address specified on each form. It is your responsibility to follow up with anyone you have asked to send us material.
The specific requirements for licensure are contained in Article 135, section 6704 of New York's Education Law and Part 62 of the Commissioner's Regulations. Copies of both the New York State Education Law and the Commissioner's Regulations are also available upon request from opforms@mail.nysed.gov or by calling 518-474-3817 ext. 320.
You should also read the general licensing information applicable for all professions.
Fees
The fee for licensure is $340.
The fee for a three-year limited license is $340.
The fee for a limited permit is $105.
Fees are subject to change. The fee due is the one in law when your application is received (unless fees are increased retroactively). You will be billed for the difference if fees have been increased.
- Do not send cash.
- Make your personal check or money order payable to the New York State Education Department. Your cancelled check is your receipt.
- Mail your application and fee to:
New York State Education Department, Office of the Professions
PO Box 22063
Albany, NY 12201
Partial Refunds
Individuals who withdraw their licensure application may be entitled to a partial refund.
- For the procedure to withdraw your application, contact the Veterinary Medicine Unit at opunit1@mail.nysed.gov or by calling 518-474-3817 ext. 250 or by fax at 518-402-5354.
- The State Education Department is not responsible for any fees paid to an outside testing or credentials verification agency.
If you withdraw your application, obtain a refund, and then decide to seek New York State licensure at a later date, you will be considered a new applicant, and you will be required to pay the licensure and registration fees and meet the licensure requirements in place at the time you reapply.
Education Requirements
To satisfy the education requirements for licensure as a veterinarian, you must present evidence of both A and B below.
- Pre-professional Education
Satisfactory completion of at least 60 semester hours of college study from a NYS registered program or the equivalent as determined by the New York State Education Department. The pre-professional education must include courses in general chemistry, organic chemistry and biology or zoology.
- Professional Education
Satisfactory completion of a professional program in veterinary medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) or approved by the Department. The educational program must consist of four years of college study (or its equivalent), including an acceptable year of clinical training, and must lead to the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, or its equivalent.
Graduates of unaccredited veterinary medicine programs must present evidence of acceptable clinical education equivalent in length and content to that found in an accredited program leading to the doctoral degree in veterinary medicine. Acceptable clinical education can be documented by such evidence as:
- residency or internship at a school with an American Veterinary Medicine Association-accredited veterinary medicine program;
- certification by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates. (Verification of any such certification should be forwarded by the AVMA to the Department.); or
- completion of clinical education prescribed in a formal agreement between an unaccredited veterinary school and an accredited veterinary medicine program, which assures equivalency in length and content to the clinical training received by students in the accredited program.
Please Note: Work experience, in and of itself, will not be considered as meeting the clinical education requirement.
Examination Requirements
Applicants who have not taken the examination
The current examination required for licensure is the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE). Arrangements to sit for the NAVLE can be made by contacting the National Board Examination Committee (NBEC) at 701-224-0332, e-mail: mail@nbec.org, or by visiting their Web site at: www.nbec.org. The Web site includes the Bulletin of Information for Candidates, including application forms. The fee to sit for the NAVLE must be sent directly to the NBEC.
Applicants who have successfully completed an examination
In addition to the NAVLE, the examination offered prior to November 2000 may be accepted. Applicants who have passed the National Board Examination (NBE) and Clinical Competency Test (CCT) by New York State standards will meet the examination requirement for licensure. Scores for both examinations may be transferred to the New York State Education Department by contacting the Veterinary Information Verifying Agency (VIVA) at their toll free number: 877-698-8482.
Reasonable Testing Accommodations
If you have a disability and may require reasonable testing accommodations for the examination, complete and submit the Request for Reasonable Testing Accommodations form. You may also request a copy of the form from opforms@mail.nysed.gov, by calling 518-474-3817 ext. 320, by fax at 518-473-8222, or by checking the box in item 20 on page 3 of the Application for Licensure and First Registration (Form 1). Along with the form, you must submit a letter from a health care provider who has diagnosed and/or treated you, indicating the nature and extent of the disability, the proposed accommodations, all medical, psychological or educational evaluations used by the professional health service providers in making reasonable testing accommodation determinations, and types of accommodations made for you in the past.
Applicants with documented disabilities must request specific testing accommodations at the time of filing an application for licensure. In addition, you must check the appropriate box on the National Board Examination Committee (NBEC) North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) application when you apply to take the examination. The Office of the Professions will work with you to provide accommodations that are appropriate. If you receive an authorization to take the licensing examination prior to notification of a decision on your request for reasonable accommodation, you should contact the Bureau of Professional Examinations at 518-474-3817 ext. 290 to confirm your status.
Applicants Licensed in Another State
An applicant licensed as a veterinarian in another state seeking licensure in New York must follow the same procedure as an unlicensed applicant and present evidence of having met all requirements for licensure. However, if you have successfully completed the NBE for licensure in another state, but have not taken or passed the CCT, and you have met all other requirements, it is possible you may be eligible for licensure in New York State by endorsement of your other license in combination with acceptable experience. You must be a duly licensed veterinarian in good standing in the state where you are currently licensed. Complete Section II of Form 4 and return it directly to the Office of the Professions at the address on the form. For additional information contact the board office at: Phone: 518-474-3817 ext. 210, Fax: 518-474-6375, E-mail: vetmedbd@mail.nysed.gov.
Limited Permit
A limited permit may be issued to an applicant who meets all other requirements for licensure except the examination and U.S. citizenship or permanent residency requirements. Applicants who have failed the licensing examination, and have not subsequently passed the examination, will not be issued a limited permit.
A permit holder must work under the direction of a currently registered, New York State licensed veterinarian. A limited permit is valid for a maximum of one year from the date of issuance or until ten days after the notification of failure of the licensing examination. A limited permit may be renewed once at the discretion of the Education Department.
Three-Year Limited License
Applicants who have met all other requirements for licensure in veterinary medicine but have not achieved U.S. citizenship or permanent resident alien status may be eligible for a one time, three-year limited license. An extension of the three-year limited license of not more than one year may be granted. The authority of the Board of Regents to grant three-year limited licenses (or extensions of those licenses) expires December 31, 2009.
An applicant as described in the paragraph above may be able to choose to work under a limited permit or a three-year limited license. In making the choice, the applicant should consider the length of time it may take to obtain citizenship or permanent resident alien status. If more than four years, the applicant may elect to begin by working under supervision with a limited permit (see above) and then subsequently work independently on a three-year limited license for a maximum of four years. For additional information contact the Veterinary Medicine Board Office at: Phone: 518-474-3817 ext. 210, Fax: 518-474-6375, E-mail: vetmedbd@mail.nysed.gov.
