Iran to USA/Canada: A Guide for Iranian Veterinarians (DVM)

Iranian veterinary graduates can qualify for a US or Canadian license through the same programs as other foreign graduates: PAVE (the AAVSB's route, which starts with the QSE) or ECFVG (the AVMA's route, which starts with the BCSE), then the NAVLE and a state or provincial license. Iran is one of the largest sources of PAVE candidates. In 2026, though, three things outside the licensing rules make the path much harder: a US proclamation that suspends entry for Iranian nationals, US sanctions that affect payments and banking, and the end of TOEFL and IELTS testing inside Iran. This guide sets out what is confirmed as of October 2026, so you can plan with real information. It is part of our country-by-country licensing guide.

Last verified on 6 October 2026. This is general information, not legal, immigration or sanctions advice, and these rules change often, sometimes by court order. Check every point with the official body linked in this article: the AAVSB, USCIS, the State Department, OFAC and the CVMA National Examining Board. For decisions that depend on immigration or sanctions law, speak to a licensed attorney. navleexam.com is not affiliated with the AAVSB, AVMA, ICVA, CVMA or PSI.

Iranian Candidates in PAVE: The Numbers

An AAVSB presentation published in the California Veterinary Medical Board's October 2025 meeting materials ranks the main PAVE candidate countries as India, Korea, Taiwan, Mexico, Iran, Egypt and Brazil. The University of Missouri's 2023 article on its PAVE clinical-year program also profiled students from Iran. In short, Iranian veterinarians have used PAVE successfully, and you will find colleagues who have done it. Our article on PAVE certificates by year has the wider data.

Step 1: Confirm Your School Is Eligible

Both PAVE and ECFVG accept only students and graduates of schools on the AVMA ECFVG-listed school directory. Only graduates of AVMA-accredited schools skip these programs, and the AVMA accredits very few schools outside North America, so expect to go through PAVE or ECFVG. The steady flow of Iranian PAVE candidates shows that Iranian schools appear on the directory, but check your own school by name before you pay any fee. If it is missing, the AAVSB says you must work with the AVMA to have it added and cannot say how long that takes. See is my vet school eligible for PAVE?