QSE vs NAVLE: What Each Tests and When PAVE Candidates Sit It
The QSE and the NAVLE are two different exams run by two different organizations. The QSE is the AAVSB's science exam inside the PAVE program, and it checks the knowledge taught in the first three years of an accredited veterinary curriculum. The NAVLE is the ICVA's licensing exam, and it checks whether you are ready for entry-level clinical practice. If you are in PAVE, you must pass the QSE before the ICVA will approve you for the NAVLE.
This guide compares the two side by side and explains your options for timing the NAVLE. For the full QSE format and 2027 outline, see our QSE 2027 guide. Figures are as of October 2026.
The Short Version
- QSE: pre-clinical and foundational science, PAVE step two, run by the AAVSB and delivered by PSI at a test center or by live remote proctoring.
- NAVLE: clinical decision-making across species, required for licensure in every US state and Canadian province, run by the ICVA and delivered by Prometric at test centers.
- Order: QSE first. The ICVA's handbook states that a PAVE candidate "must have passed the QSE examination requirement" before being approved to take the NAVLE.
- Neither is a license. The PAVE certificate and a NAVLE pass are both steps toward licensure. The state or provincial board decides the rest.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Feature | QSE (AAVSB) | NAVLE (ICVA) |
|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Checks education equivalence for graduates of non-accredited schools (PAVE step two) | Licensing exam for all candidates, accredited or not |
| What it covers | Foundational science and pre-clinical knowledge from the first three years of vet school | Entry-level private clinical practice across the species seen in North America |
| Questions | 2027 outline: 155 scored questions in 3 domains. AAVSB's exam specifications still describe 200 scored plus 25 pilot questions (see below) | 360 multiple-choice questions |
| Time | 220 minutes in a single block | About 7.5 hours in total: 12 blocks of 30 questions, 33 minutes per block, plus a 10-minute tutorial and 50 minutes of break time |
| Answer options | Four choices per question | One best answer from a list of options; about 15-20% of items include images such as photos or radiographs |
| Delivery | PSI test center or live remote proctoring | Prometric test centers, in North America and at selected international sites |
| When offered | January, May and September | 2026-27 cycle: October 12 to November 14, 2026; March 1 to 20, 2027; July 12 to August 7, 2027 |
| Fee | $1,550 per attempt, plus a $390 PAVE application fee | $825 testing in the US, US territories and Canada; $1,220 elsewhere |
| Score scale | 200 to 800, pass at 425 | 200 to 800, pass at 425 |
| Results | Official report in the AAVSB portal about 4 to 6 weeks after the exam | About 4 to 5 weeks after the testing window closes |
| Retake limits | No more than 3 attempts per calendar year; after 3 failures, a 6-month wait and a remediation statement | Lifetime limit of 5 attempts (counted fresh from the March 2026 window) |
Both exams report a 425 pass mark on a 200-800 scale. That is a coincidence of reporting, not a sign that the exams are equally hard or that a QSE score predicts a NAVLE score. They are scaled separately, on different content. Our NAVLE passing score guide explains scaled scoring on the NAVLE side.
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