BCSE Exam 2026: Dates, Fee, Passing Score and 10 Sample Questions

BCSE stands for Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination. It is the third of the four steps in the AVMA's ECFVG certification programme for graduates of non-accredited veterinary schools, it costs $250 for registrations from 1 January 2026, it is offered year-round at Prometric test centres rather than on fixed dates, and the passing scaled score is 580. This guide covers every practical detail, then gives you 10 original BCSE-style questions with explanations so you can judge how ready you are.

What Does BCSE Mean and Who Has to Take It?

The full form of BCSE is the Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination. It is a computer-based multiple-choice test of the fundamental scientific and clinical knowledge that a graduate of an accredited veterinary programme is expected to have, and it is written and administered on behalf of the American Veterinary Medical Association's Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG). The same exam is used by Canada's National Examining Board (NEB) as part of its certification process for internationally trained veterinarians, so a Canadian candidate and a US candidate can be sitting the same paper on the same day.

The ECFVG pathway has four steps, and you cannot take them out of order: