Texas Vet License With PAVE: Steps, State Exam and Fees
Yes, Texas accepts the PAVE certificate. The Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (TBVME) requires a degree from an AVMA-accredited school or an ECFVG or PAVE certificate, a NAVLE pass within five attempts, a passing score of at least 85 percent on its online State Board Exam, and fingerprints. As of October 2026 the regular veterinary license application fee is $560. This guide covers each requirement and the order to tackle them in, as part of our list of where PAVE is accepted.
This is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Fees and rules change; confirm everything with the Texas Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners before you apply. Last verified against TBVME pages and the Texas Administrative Code on 6 October 2026. navleexam.com is not affiliated with the TBVME, AAVSB, AVMA, ICVA or PSI.
Does Texas Accept PAVE?
Yes. Texas is on the AAVSB's PAVE acceptance list, and the TBVME's own DVM license page says applicants must "graduate from an AVMA-accredited college of veterinary medicine or hold an ECFVG or PAVE certificate." The board's rules in Title 22, Chapter 571 of the Texas Administrative Code use the same approach: a graduate of a school that is not AVMA-accredited qualifies on the education requirement by holding one of the two certificates.
Texas Requirements at a Glance
| Requirement | What Texas asks for |
|---|---|
| Education | PAVE (or ECFVG) certificate if your school is not AVMA-accredited |
| National exam | NAVLE, passed within five attempts |
| State exam | State Board Exam (SBE), a jurisprudence exam taken online; passing score at least 85 percent |
| Order | You must pass the NAVLE before you can apply for the SBE |
| Background check | Fingerprints submitted before licensure (required since October 1, 2018), taken through IdentoGo |
| Age | At least the age of majority |
| Where to apply | TBVME Self-Service Licensing Portal |
| Application fee | $560 for a regular veterinary license |
Step by Step: From PAVE to a Texas License
- Enroll in PAVE and pass the QSE. Apply to the AAVSB (application fee $390, QSE fee $1,550 as of October 2026), meet the English requirement and pass the Qualifying Science Examination. The complete PAVE guide covers every step.
- Pass the NAVLE, ideally on an early attempt. After a QSE pass, the AAVSB sends your details to the ICVA and you become eligible for the NAVLE. Texas only licenses candidates who pass within five attempts, so do not treat early attempts as practice runs. See our guide to the NAVLE for international graduates.
- Complete the Evaluated Clinical Experience (ECE) at an AVMA-accredited school that accepts you. See the ECE guide.
- Receive your PAVE certificate. The AAVSB emails it once all program criteria are met. It does not expire.
- Create an account in the TBVME Self-Service Licensing Portal and upload your documents. Pay the $560 application fee.
- Complete fingerprinting through IdentoGo.
- Take the online State Board Exam once the board approves you and sends your candidate ID (details below).
- Receive your license. The TBVME says licenses are issued within 7 business days of passing the SBE, once everything else is complete.
The Texas State Board Exam (SBE)
Despite its name, the SBE is not a clinical exam. It is a jurisprudence exam on the laws and rules that govern veterinary practice in Texas. What the TBVME and its rules say about it:
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