AVE Exam Guide 2026: Format, Fee, Exemptions & How to Pass
AVE Exam Guide 2026: Format, Fee, Exemptions & How to Pass
Medically Reviewed & Validated by Dr. Whimsly Haris, Chief Veterinary Advisor & Global Licensing Expert. If you are an overseas-trained vet aiming to practise in Australia or New Zealand, the AVE is the assessment you need to understand.
AVE stands for the Australasian Veterinary Examination. It is the assessment administered by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) to verify that veterinary graduates from non-accredited schools meet the standard required for registration in Australia and New Zealand.
This guide covers the full AVE format, the fees, who must take it, the valuable exemptions available to RCVS-registered vets and NAVLE holders, and a practical path to registration for the 2026-2027 cycle.
Clinical & Academic Content Verified
This educational resource has been reviewed by Dr. Whimsly Haris, DVM, PhD, FRCVS for alignment with current sittings, board guidelines, and publicly available exam-board information.
1. What Is the AVE (Australasian Veterinary Examination)?
The AVE is the mandatory assessment for overseas-trained veterinarians who did not graduate from an AVBC-accredited veterinary school and who want to practise in Australia or New Zealand. It verifies that your clinical knowledge and skills meet the standard expected of a veterinarian in those countries.
The examination is administered by the AVBC (Australasian Veterinary Boards Council), which coordinates the assessment on behalf of the veterinary boards and councils in Australia and New Zealand.
The AVE is divided into two main stages: a preliminary MCQ written examination and a final clinical/practical examination. Passing both is required before you can complete registration in your chosen state or territory.
2. AVE Exam Format: The Two Stages
The AVE has two distinct stages that you must pass in sequence.
The first is the preliminary examination — a multiple-choice written paper covering basic and clinical veterinary sciences. This tests the same kind of foundational knowledge that the BCSE assesses for the North American pathways, so candidates who have prepared for one often find overlap with the other.
The second is the final examination — a multi-day clinical and practical assessment. This is the hands-on component where you demonstrate your clinical skills, diagnostic reasoning, and practical competence, typically across multiple species and clinical scenarios.
- Stage 1: Preliminary MCQ written examination (basic + clinical sciences)
- Stage 2: Final clinical/practical examination (multi-day assessment)
3. Who Must Take the AVE?
You must take the AVE if you are a veterinary graduate from a school that is not accredited by the AVBC and you wish to practise in Australia or New Zealand.
Graduates of AVBC-accredited veterinary schools in Australia, New Zealand, the UK, and other recognised countries do not need to sit the AVE — their degrees are recognised directly.
If you hold full RCVS registration or have passed the NAVLE, you may be eligible for partial or full exemptions from parts of the AVE, which we cover in the next section.
4. AVE Exemptions: RCVS and NAVLE Holders
One of the most valuable things to know about the AVE is that holding certain other credentials can reduce what you have to sit.
Veterinarians with full RCVS registration from the UK are often exempt from the preliminary MCQ examination, because the AVBC recognises RCVS standards as equivalent. Similarly, candidates who have passed the NAVLE may be eligible for exemption from the preliminary examination, since it tests comparable foundational sciences.
Exemptions are assessed case by case by the AVBC and can change, so it is essential to confirm your specific situation before planning your timeline. Working with an advisor who knows how the AVBC applies these exemptions can save you from sitting an unnecessary exam stage.
5. AVE Fees and Registration for 2026
The AVE has fees for each stage, set by the AVBC and reviewed periodically. You should confirm the current fees on the AVBC website before applying, as they change between cycles.
Registration begins with the AVBC application process, where you submit your qualifications for assessment and receive a determination on your eligibility and any exemptions. Once approved, you book each examination stage.
Budget for the application and assessment fees, the examination fees for each stage you must sit, and supporting costs such as credential verification, English language testing, and travel to an examination centre. For overseas candidates, the final clinical assessment may require travel to Australia or New Zealand.
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6. AVE vs Other Vet Pathways: How It Compares
The AVE is one of several routes for overseas vets, and it is worth understanding how it compares to the North American ECFVG/PAVE pathways and the UK RCVS route.
Unlike ECFVG (which uses the BCSE plus the CPE) and PAVE (BCSE plus a clinical year), the AVE uses its own preliminary MCQ plus a final clinical examination. The BCSE and the AVE preliminary exam cover similar foundational sciences, so preparing for one gives you a strong head start on the other.
If you are weighing Australia/NZ against the US, Canada, or the UK, the right choice depends on your career goals, existing credentials, and where you want to settle. For candidates with RCVS registration, Australia can be a relatively smooth move thanks to the exemption route.
Dr. Whimsly Haris, DVM, PhD, FRCVS
Chief Veterinary Academic Advisor & Vice President
Dr. Whimsly Haris is a leading veterinary academic and former professor of clinical sciences. She manages veterinary licensure preparation programs, focusing on NAVLE, BCSE, and RCVS statutory membership pathways.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does AVE stand for in veterinary?
AVE stands for the Australasian Veterinary Examination, the assessment administered by the AVBC for overseas-trained veterinarians seeking registration in Australia and New Zealand.
How much does the AVE exam cost?
The AVE has separate fees for the preliminary written examination and the final clinical examination, set by the AVBC and reviewed each cycle. Confirm the current fees on the AVBC website before applying.
Can I get an AVE exemption with RCVS or NAVLE?
Yes. Vets with full RCVS registration or who have passed the NAVLE are often exempt from the preliminary MCQ examination. Exemptions are assessed case by case by the AVBC.
Who has to take the Australasian Veterinary Examination?
Veterinary graduates from non-AVBC-accredited schools who want to practise in Australia or New Zealand. Graduates of accredited schools have their degrees recognised directly.
