Which States Do Not Accept PAVE? The 5 States and Your Options
Five US states do not recognize the PAVE certificate: Alabama, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico and Nevada. Each of them asks graduates of non-accredited veterinary schools for an ECFVG certificate from the AVMA instead. If you want to practice in one of these states, plan on ECFVG, or plan to be licensed in a state that does accept PAVE. This is the position on the AAVSB's acceptance list (updated July 2025) and in each state's current rules as of October 2026.
This page is part of our PAVE vs ECFVG series. For every jurisdiction that does accept PAVE, see where PAVE is accepted. If PAVE does fit your plans, its first exam is the QSE, and our QSE practice questions mapped to the 2027 outline are a good place to start. This is general information, not legal advice. Licensing rules change, so confirm with the state board in writing before you pay for either program.
The Five States at a Glance
| State | What the rules require from non-accredited graduates | Where it is written |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Original diploma and an AVMA ECFVG certificate at the time of application | Alabama State Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, DVM License Application (2026); Ala. Code 34-29-72 |
| Kansas | Enrolled in or graduated from the AVMA's ECFVG program | Kan. Admin. Regs. 70-4-10 |
| Missouri | Graduate of an AVMA-listed school who holds an ECFVG certificate | 20 CSR 2270-2.011 |
| New Mexico | Certification of completion of the ECFVG program | 16.25.2.13 NMAC (replaced effective January 14, 2025) |
| Nevada | An ECFVG educational certificate (or a board-approved substitute only if ECFVG ceases to exist) | NRS 638.100; NAC 638.0435 |
Everywhere else in the US that the AAVSB lists, 47 states and territories in all, accepts the PAVE certificate for the education requirement. All Canadian provinces and territories accept it for candidates who passed the QSE after September 2014, as do Australia and New Zealand.
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