California Veterinary License Guide

Pay $950 to the California Veterinary Medical Board. 

• Licensing Fee (initial): $500
• Application Fee: $350
• Veterinary Law Exam Fee: $100

It will cost an additional $34.25 to get licensed in California due to:

• Fingerprint processing fee: $34.25

Proof of Graduation:

Ask your AVMA accredited veterinary school to submit your transcript & diploma directly to the California Veterinary Medical Board.

• Foreign Veterinary Graduates: Vets educated outside the US will need to complete the certificate program offered by the ECFVG OR PAVE. 

Exam Requirements:

NAVLE: New vets applying for a license in California will need to pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination and have their results submitted directly to the California Veterinary Medical Board.

• If you took the NAVLE over 5 years ago, submit proof of 36 hours of CE in the last 2 years OR proof of 2,500 hours of veterinary practice in at least 2 of the last 3 years.

Veterinary Law Exam: Applicants in California will also need to complete an open-book exam covering California's Practice Act (unless you graduated from UC-Davis or Western University).

• Study Guide
• Registration - Must take the exam within 40 days of registration.

Criminal Background Check & Moral Character Requirements:

Submit fingerprints to the Department of Justice for a criminal background check ($34.25 fee).

• Instructions
• Live Scan Locations
• If applying out of state, email vmb@dca.ca.gov to request a hard card fingerprinting packet. 

Veterinarians who are already licensed in another state, US territory, Canadian province, or Washington D.C. must submit a verification of licensure for any licenses currently or previously held, including any disciplinary action taken against any of your licenses by a state veterinary board.

• AAVSB Vault Service: You can have the AAVSB transfer your NAVLE test results, verification of licensure for any other veterinary licenses, and letters of good standing for a fee of $99.

Click here for the most up to date processing times for California DVM license applications.

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