California Vet License With PAVE: Steps, Exams and Fees

Yes, California accepts the PAVE certificate. Its Veterinary Medical Board (VMB) lets graduates of non-accredited schools meet the education requirement with either an ECFVG or a PAVE certificate, sent to the board directly by the program. On top of PAVE you need a NAVLE pass, the board's online Veterinary Law Examination, fingerprints and license verifications. As of October 2026 the board's fees are $350 to apply, $100 for the law exam and $500 for the initial license. This guide walks through each step, and it builds on our list of where PAVE is accepted.

This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Fees and rules change; confirm everything with the California Veterinary Medical Board before you apply. Last verified against VMB and AAVSB pages on 6 October 2026. navleexam.com is not affiliated with the VMB, AAVSB, AVMA, ICVA or PSI.

Does California Accept PAVE?

Yes, on two counts. California appears on the AAVSB's PAVE acceptance list, and the VMB's own application information names PAVE in the education requirement (Business and Professions Code section 4846(a)(1)): an applicant must "graduate from an AVMA accredited school or receive a certificate from the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE)."

The board is also paying attention to both pathways. At its October 15-16, 2025 meeting, it heard back-to-back presentations from the AVMA on ECFVG and from the AAVSB on PAVE. No action was taken on either item. The AAVSB slides shared program data that is useful context for any candidate: