Recently, the veterinary community has begun to raise questions about The North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), which is administered by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA), and how it is developed, administered, and scored. Because of this, the ICVA announced earlier this month that it has agreed to initiate an independent audit of the examination.

“Recently, members of the veterinary community have raised questions around how the NAVLE is developed, administered, and scored. To ensure the NAVLE continues to be a fair and impartial assessment of candidates’ entry-level knowledge, skills, and abilities, we have made the decision to initiate an audit of the examination performed by an independent third party,” ICVA stated in an organizational release.

According to the ICVA’s Annual Report, the NAVLE saw record numbers this year with 9,301 examinations administered, marking a 51% increase in the last 5 years.

 Each exam is offered to future veterinary professionals at Prometric computer testing centers across North America, plus certain international locations. The tests are given during 3 annual testing windows each year, October-November, March, and then July-August.

ICVA stated in their release that they are still in early stages of the audit process and will continue to update the veterinary community as they learn more.

Along with the news of the audit, ICVA also announced that starting December 1, 2025, there is an update to the retake policy. Starting with the March 2026 window, all candidates will be given 5 new opportunities to take the NAVLE, regardless of their testing history.

 The ICVA stated in their release that anyone who had tests attempts made prior to December 1, 2025 will not count toward the new 5 attempt limit. With this change the ICVA will also eliminate the waiver process to help ensure consistent and equitable policy for all candidates.

This update, according to the ICVA, comes after feedback from candidates as well as NAVLE data.

NAVLE will undergo independent audit. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. December 12, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/news/navle-will-undergo-independent-audit

ICVA Statement on NAVLE Independent Audit. News release. International Council for Veterinary Assessment. December 1, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. 

https://www.icva.net/news-and-updates/icva-statement-on-navle-audit/#

International Council for Veterinary Assessment. ICVA Annual Report 2024-2025. ICVA; 2025. Accessed December 16, 2024. 

https://icva.net/image/cache/ICVA_Annual_Report_2024-2025_FIN.pdf

NAVLE Retake Policy Changes Effective December 1, 2025. International Council for Veterinary Assessment. November 17, 2025. Accessed December 16, 2025. 

https://www.icva.net/news-and-updates/navle-retake-policy-changes-effective-december-1-2025/

Articles

The audit comes after the veterinary community recently raised questions about the development, administration, and scoring of the test, plus other NAVLE news.

NAVLE to undergo independent audit 

Dr Sykes outlines why new evidence on leptospirosis epidemiology and safer vaccines led to a recommendation for annual vaccination of all dogs.

Make leptospirosis vaccination part of the annual conversation

Jane Sykes, BVSc, PhD, MPH, MBA, FNAP, explains why the updated ACVIM consensus statement on leptospirosis matters. New data on epidemiology, diagnostics, vaccine safety, and duration of immunity support a recommendation to consider leptospirosis vaccination for all dogs on an annual basis, and the guidelines also address health risks from handling suspected cases.

Click here to read the updated ACVIM consensus statement on leptospirosis in dogs

: Hi, my name is Dr Jane Sykes. I am a professor of small animal internal medicine at the University of California, Davis. I am a clinician, a researcher, and an educator at UC Davis, and I study infectious diseases of dogs and cats.

One of the main reasons we updated the consensus statement is that there has been a lot of change in our knowledge of the epidemiology of leptospirosis, especially as it affects dogs and cats. New diagnostic tests have been developed, and crucially we now know much more about vaccines and vaccine safety. Newer vaccines are much safer than older options, and we have more information on duration of immunity. We also have more information on health risks from handling suspected cases, and the consensus statement addresses that as well.

A major change in the consensus statement concerns vaccine safety and efficacy. We have new vaccines now, and those vaccines appear to be protecting dogs in the US. Basically all of the dogs we are seeing at UC Davis with leptospirosis, and similar reports from other parts of the world, are dogs that have not been vaccinated or that were not properly vaccinated for leptospirosis. Leptospirosis is appearing in under vaccinated dogs because of concerns about vaccine reactions. That includes small breed dogs and geriatric dogs that are not being vaccinated because people perceive they do not need vaccines due to age or presumed immunity. We are also seeing cases in very young puppies that have not yet had a chance to receive vaccines.

One way to communicate the importance of vaccination is to tell clients that vaccines have changed and are now about as safe as the vaccines we use for distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus. As a result of the guideline, leptospirosis is considered to affect all dogs, no matter their breed, age, or lifestyle. The recommendation is that all dogs should get vaccinated every year for leptospirosis. That is a big change, because our traditional core vaccines have often been given every three years. Making leptospirosis a core vaccine means dogs will potentially come in every year for vaccination, and owners will likely have questions about vaccine safety and rationale.

When communicating with clients, use stories and examples. Tell them that the dogs developing leptospirosis are often unvaccinated dogs, including small breed dogs, geriatric dogs, and very young puppies. Explain that leptospirosis can be a fatal disease, that treatment costs can be in the thousands of dollars, and that some dogs might not survive. It is now one of the more common vaccine preventable diseases we see. If an owner chooses not to vaccinate their dog, that decision should be documented in the medical record.

To read more news and view expert insights from Fetch Long Beach, visit 

’s dedicated site for conference coverage at 

https://www.dvm360.com/conference/fetch-long-beach

Sykes JE, Francey T, Schuller S, et al. Updated ACVIM consensus statement on leptospirosis in dogs. 

. 2023 Nov-Dec;37(6):1966-1982. doi: 10.1111/jvim.16903. Epub 2023 Oct 20. PMID: 37861061; PMCID: PMC10658540.

Videos

Ograin recommends assessing and optimizing a patient’s nutritional plane before elective surgery and sending patients home on a complete, digestible GI diet to improve outcomes.

Optimize presurgical nutrition to improve recovery

From an interview at the Fetch dvm360 Conference in Long Beach, California, Vicky Ograin, MBA, RVT, VTS (Nutrition), explains why perioperative nutrition matters. Optimizing protein intake and overall nutrition before elective surgery improves healing, and early appropriate feeding as the gut recovers supports the microbiome and speeds recovery, she says.

: Hi, I am Vicky Ograin. I am a registered veterinary technician and a VTS, a veterinary technician specialist, in nutrition. I am here at Fetch speaking about a couple of my favorite topics. The first is surgery. In practice I was a surgery technician and I can combine surgery and recovery with nutrition, which I find very exciting. I will also be talking about the microbiome and keeping the GI system healthy.

We should think not only about recovery after surgery but also about the period before surgery. Are patients eating well and are they on a complete and balanced diet? That is very important. I have a case where an owner went a little off the rails and the dog was not eating a complete and balanced diet. If a dog is malnourished and not getting proper nutrition, does that set the dog up for success or failure during surgery and recovery? In this case it set the dog up for failure because it was not getting the right nutrition and recovery was harder.

You want patients to have good nutrients, including adequate protein, to help them heal after surgery. It all starts before surgery. For elective procedures I want to make sure the patient is in a good nutritional plane. For emergencies we have to act immediately. In this case we were able to delay surgery until the dog reached a good nutritional plane and that helped set the dog up for success.

After surgery we want to support the gut and the microbiome and keep the patient on a good nutritional plan. For elective surgery take a nutrition history to understand what the pet is eating and tailor recommendations to the condition and the procedure. That is important.

We always discuss withholding food and water before anesthesia, but we do not always think enough about feeding afterwards. As the patient wakes and the gut is working, we want to feed. If there is GI surgery or persistent vomiting we would not feed, but if the gut is functioning we should use it. In the hospital, give a light meal as the patient wakes. At home let the pet settle and begin with a small meal rather than a full meal, which may be harder on the stomach. See how the pet does and if things go well you can advance to a full meal.

Some people recommend chicken and rice because it is bland. I advise caution because owners may think chicken and rice is suitable long term when it is not complete and balanced. It is meant for short-term use only. If I recommend a food to send home I prefer a GI diet that is highly digestible, easy on the stomach, and complete and balanced. The most important point is to ensure complete and balanced nutrition so the patient receives the nutrients needed for healing.

Vicky Ograin, MBA, RVT, VTS (Nutrition) recommends assessing and optimizing a patient’s nutritional plane before elective surgery and sending patients home on a complete, digestible GI diet to improve outcomes.

Photo courtesy of Chicago College of Veterinary Medicine

The proposed Chicago College of Veterinary Medicine (CCVM) has received approval from the Illinois Board of Higher Education (IBHE) to confer the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. The new college is under development at Midwestern University’s campus in Downers Grove, Illinois.

The new CCVM in Illinois aims to address the region’s need for practicing veterinarians, qualified veterinary leaders and professional educators as well as increase research that would aid public health.

 Plans for the CCVM include a teaching hospital that will provide students with hands-on clinical education.

“This approval from the IBHE is an exciting and important step in our journey to build a strong veterinary program for Illinois and the broader region,” Coretta C. Patterson, DVM, DACVIM (SAIM), PG Cert Vet Med Ed, dean of the CCVM, said in a news release.

 “Our goal is to prepare compassionate, highly competent veterinarians who will improve animal health, support public health, and contribute meaningfully to their communities. A 4-year veterinary college, supported by a comprehensive teaching hospital, will ensure our students are fully prepared for the demands of modern veterinary practice.”

Midwestern University currently operates a College of Veterinary Medicine at its campus in Glendale, Arizona. This college was founded in 2012 and graduated its first class in 2018. It offers a veterinary teaching clinic, a large animal teaching facility and external sites for clinical skills training.

According to Midwestern University, the Illinois board’s decision to approve the DVM program represents a major milestone for the institution as it progresses toward full accreditation from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE). A companion animal clinic is expected to open in spring 2027, and the first class is expected to matriculate in 2028, pending COE accreditation.

“The program is designed to prepare students for key roles in the healthcare delivery system for both humans and animals. The program will also teach students the importance of animals in the ecosystem with human health and how to manage, recognize, and report zoonotic diseases,” the IBHE wrote in its approval.

The COE lists 36 veterinary schools in the US and its territories as accredited, including those with full accreditation as well as provisional and probationary statuses. Additionally, 2 veterinary schools in development have received a Letter of Reasonable Assurance as they work towards accreditation: Lincoln Memorial University’s College of Veterinary Medicine at Orange Park in Florida and Clemson University’s 

Harvey S. Peeler College of Veterinary Medicine

Midwestern University’s CCVM is poised to join only one other veterinary medical school currently operating in Illinois.

 The state is currently home to the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign College of Veterinary Medicine, according to AVMA.

Midwestern University receives state approval to offer Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. News release. Midwestern University. December 15, 2025. Accessed December 15, 2025. 

https://www.midwestern.edu/news-stories/midwestern-university-receives-state-approval-offer-doctor-veterinary-medicine-degree

Doctor of veterinary medicine, Chicago College of Veterinary Medicine. Midwestern University. Accessed December 15, 2025. 

https://www.midwestern.edu/academics/degrees-programs/doctor-veterinary-medicine-program/doctor-veterinary-medicine-chicago-college-veterinary-medicine

Doctor of veterinary medicine, College of Veterinary Medicine, Glendale campus. Midwestern University. Accessed December 15, 2025. 

https://www.midwestern.edu/academics/degrees-programs/doctor-veterinary-medicine-program/doctor-veterinary-medicine-college-veterinary-medicine-glendale-campus

New operating and/or degree-granting authority for independent institutions. Illinois Board of Higher Education. November 12, 2025. Accessed December 15, 2025. 

https://www.ibhe.org/board/2025/Nov/Item_H-2.pdf

Accredited colleges of veterinary medicine. American Veterinary Medical Association. October 16, 2025. Accessed December 15, 2025. 

https://www.avma.org/sites/default/files/2025-10/colleges-accredited-9-2025.pdf

Midwestern University is developing the new Chicago College of Veterinary Medicine in Illinois.

Proposed veterinary college receives approval from state's higher education board

Officials have detected highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in a dairy cattle herd in Wisconsin, according to the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA’s) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). The detection marks the state’s first known case of H5N1.

The case, belonging to the H5 clade 2.3.4.4b, was confirmed via polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay) by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory on December 14, 2025. Officials detected the case through ongoing nationwide surveillance of milk samples as part of the USDA’s National Milk Testing Strategy, a mandatory testing system first established in early December 2024.

In a news release announcing the H5N1 detection, the USDA said APHIS will finish genetic sequencing and announce the final results as soon as they are available. According to the USDA, federal animal health officials are working with Wisconsin agriculture authorities to conduct further on-farm investigations, expand diagnostic testing, and collect epidemiological data to better understand the detection and limit further spread.

“The detection does not change USDA’s HPAI eradication strategy. Biosecurity is still key to mitigating the risk of disease introduction or spread between premises,” the USDA wrote in an announcement.

 “APHIS recommends enhanced biosecurity measures for all dairy farms. Producers should immediately report any livestock with clinical signs, or any unusual sick or dead wildlife, to their state veterinarian.”

The detection does not pose a risk to consumers or the commercial milk supply, the USDA said. According to the FDA, pasteurization effectively inactivates the HPAI virus, and milk from affected animals is diverted or destroyed before it can enter the food chain.

To date, dairy cattle across 18 states have been infected with H5N1 since the outbreak began in March 2024. This fall, Nebraska also saw its first case of H5N1 in dairy cattle,

and Iowa and Minnesota experienced an H5N1 outbreak in poultry on commercial farms.

 On October 2, 2025, Wisconsin also reported an H5N1 poultry outbreak in a commercial flock in Jefferson County, which housed more than half a million birds.

 In September 2025, Wisconsin had another outbreak in poultry that affected more than 3 million commercial poultry.

Although HPAI viruses in birds and US dairy cattle pose a low risk to humans, those who may experience exposure to infected birds or mammals, such as veterinarians and veterinary staff, face a higher risk of infection. To lower exposure, the CDC recommends

Understanding that avian influenza viruses can infect humans through the eyes, nose, mouth, or by inhalation.

Developing and following a workplace health and safety plan designed to reduce exposure risks.

Participating in site-specific hazard assessments to identify potential exposures and exposure levels tied to specific work tasks and settings.

Using practical safeguards, including physical controls and workplace practices that limit exposure.

Wearing personal protective equipment (PPE) when required and using it correctly.

Following control and PPE recommendations based on whether exposure risk is low, medium, or high.

Being familiar with and complying with applicable Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) or state OSHA requirements.

USDA confirms highly pathogenic avian influenza in a dairy herd in Wisconsin. News release. US Department of Agriculture. December 14, 2025. Accessed December 15, 2025.

USDA announces new federal order, begins national milk testing strategy to address H5N1 in dairy herds. News release. US Department of Agriculture. December 6, 2024. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.usda.gov/about-usda/news/press-releases/2024/12/06/usda-announces-new-federal-order-begins-national-milk-testing-strategy-address-h5n1-dairy-herds

Bautista-Alejandre A. USDA confirms first case of bird flu in Nebraska dairy cattle. 

. September 16, 2025. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/usda-confirms-first-case-of-bird-flu-in-nebraska-dairy-cattle

Bautista-Alejandre A. New bird flu outbreaks reported in poultry across 3 Midwestern states. 

. October 6, 2025. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.dvm360.com/view/new-bird-flu-outbreaks-reported-in-poultry-across-3-midwestern-states

Reducing exposure for workers to avian influenza A viruses. US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. May 6, 2025. Accessed December 15, 2025. https://www.cdc.gov/bird-flu/worker-safety/index.html

Earlier this year, the state experienced two H5N1 outbreaks in commercial poultry that affected more than 3 million birds.

Federal officials confirm Wisconsin’s first case of bird flu in a dairy cattle herd

Lee argues for year-round isoxazoline use, noting that interrupting the flea life cycle protects both pets and people.

Why year-round isoxazolines are important

Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, DACVM (Parasitology), explains why flea prevention is a year-round conversation. Cat fleas spend almost all of their adult life on pets, most of the flea burden lives as juvenile stages in the home, and waiting until an infestation appears can create weeks to months of risk to not only to the pet, but to people in the household as well.

Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, DACVM (Parasitology)

: With things like fleas, most of the time clients know that they have them. It's always amazing to me when a dog comes in scratching and you can see all the fleas, and the owner says, "Really? I had no idea." Where does your dog sleep...in your bed? How do you not know? But most of the time you do see that, because the cat flea lives 99% of its adult life on the pet.

With ticks—hard-bodied ticks—they'll live 2 to 3 years and only spend two to three days on your pet. If they're smaller, like in the nymph or larval stage, they're going to be so small that you won't see them. One vet I knew took off his wedding ring after changing the oil in his car, found a little nymph underneath the ring, sent it off, and it tested positive. So they're hard to find.

I think we really need to be talking to everybody about putting pets on an isoxazoline year-round if you're in the US. I live in Southern California, and we often think there are flea seasons even though we have fairly consistent weather, but certainly there are times when we see more fleas than others. A lot of clients will say, "I just need the medication because I have fleas now... normally we never see them, so it's not a big deal." When we come back to the life cycle and understand that the vast majority of fleas are actually juvenile forms in your house, once you have an infestation established it can take several weeks to a couple of months to get it under control.

What I tell clients is: "It's not just for your pet that I'm giving this medication and asking you to use it year-round, it's also for your protection. In Southern California we've had outbreaks of things like typhus. One of my good friends...when she and her now-husband were engaged, he got typhus from a single flea bite during a routine vaccination clinic. He was in a coma for a couple of days, required months to recover, and they had to postpone the wedding. From a single flea bite there's a real danger to people.

If you're on year-round protection and your dog is exposed to fleas, many of the current products kill fleas within 24 hours, so the risk to humans is minimal. But if we wait until it's a problem and the fleas have already started laying eggs in the house, now you have months of risk for the people in that home.

Christopher Lee, DVM, MPH, DACVPM, DACVM (Parasitology), argues for year-round isoxazoline use, noting that interrupting the flea life cycle protects both pets and people.