How Much Does PAVE Cost? A Full Budget for Foreign Veterinary Graduates
PAVE, the AAVSB's Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence, is one of two routes to US licensure for graduates of non-accredited veterinary schools. Its exam fees are modest. Its clinical year is not. This guide lists every cost you are likely to meet, from the application to your first state license, with each figure dated and linked to its source. Every fee here is in US dollars and correct as of October 2026. Fees change, so confirm each one with the source before you pay.
The Costs at a Glance
| Item | Cost (as of October 2026) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| PAVE application fee | $390 | AAVSB |
| Qualifying Science Examination (QSE) | $1,550 | AAVSB |
| QSE retake | $1,550 per attempt | AAVSB |
| Official QSE practice test (optional) | $50 per attempt | AAVSB |
| English proficiency test | Set by the test provider; varies by country | ETS (TOEFL), IELTS |
| Evaluated Clinical Experience (ECE) | Set by each school; Penn Vet quotes about $85,000 in tuition, fees and expenses for 2026-27 | AAVSB; Penn Vet |
| SEVIS I-901 fee (F-1 student) | $350 | US Immigration and Customs Enforcement |
| NAVLE, testing in the US, US territories or Canada | $825 | ICVA, 2026-27 cycle |
| NAVLE, testing elsewhere | $1,220 ($825 plus a $395 international fee) | ICVA, 2026-27 cycle |
| State license application and state exams | Varies by state | Your state board |
1. AAVSB Fees: Application and QSE
You pay the $390 application fee and the $1,550 QSE fee together, in full, by credit or debit card when you apply. The AAVSB only processes complete applications with full payment. That makes $1,940 up front.
If you do not pass, the retake fee is $1,550 each time. The AAVSB allows no more than three QSE attempts in one calendar year, and after three failures you must wait at least six months and submit evidence of remediation to the PAVE Committee. Budgeting for one possible retake is sensible: it keeps a single bad day from derailing your finances.
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