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Employers:
What You Need To Know

As a Veterinary Practice Entity (VPE), two major factors will impact the steps required to hire an internationally trained veterinary professional. These include the country of origin of the veterinary professional – which determines the immigration and work permit pathway best suited for them – and whether or not they graduated from an accredited college or program – this determines the steps needed to gain a veterinary license to practice in Alberta.

Work Permit

Internationally trained veterinary professionals have a range of immigration and work permit pathways available to them, which vary based on their nationality and qualifications.

Several pathways among the available options are driven by employer needs. This implies that internationally trained veterinary professionals require a job offer from an eligible employer, who has fulfilled all necessary criteria, and in some instances, obtained a community endorsement to initiate their Work Permit and immigration procedures.

Discover more details on the immigration process and employer-driven pathways available for obtaining a work permit. Click on the links below to find more information on the requirements for each pathway:

immigration resources

For assistance with the immigration process when employing an internationally trained veterinary professional, book your free immigration consultation with SYMY Immigration Consultants and Recruitment to discuss your options in more detail. Let them know you were referred by ABVMA to enjoy discounted rates, should you decide to retain their professional representation.

Book A Free Immigration Consultation:

SYMY Immigration Consultants & Recruitment

Find more information on the veterinary licensing process in Alberta and some ways you can support your newly hired internationally trained veterinary professionals.

Licensing for Internationally Trained Veterinary Professionals

Learn More

How You Can Support New Hires

Learn More
Book an immigration consultation
licensing information

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Licensing for Internationally Trained Veterinary Professionals

The ABVMA is responsible for granting licenses to internationally trained veterinary professionals who wish to practice in Alberta. The steps to securing their licenses depend on their role – veterinarian or veterinary technologist – and the accreditation status of their veterinary college or veterinary technologist program.
Click the links below to view the accredited veterinary colleges and veterinary technology programs:

Veterinary Colleges:

Veterinary Technology Programs:

Graduate of an accredited College Or Program:

Veterinarian: If the internationally trained veterinarian has graduated from a veterinary college that is accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE), they are already a step closer to securing a licence.

The next step for them is to complete their registration with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s (CVMA) National Examining Board (NEB), by submitting the required documents, and then taking the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE). This will earn them a Certificate of Qualification from the Canadian National Examining Board (NEB), making them eligible to apply for a general practice registered veterinarian licence with the ABVMA.

Veterinary Technologist: For an internationally trained veterinary technologist, who graduated from a veterinary technology program that is accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association or the American Veterinary Medical Association, their next step will be to submit the required documents to the ABVMA and take the Veterinary Technician National Exam (VTNE).

Learn more about the application process for a veterinary technologist.

Graduate of a College or Program NOT accredited:

Veterinarian: If the internationally trained veterinarian graduated from a veterinary college that is not accredited by the American Veterinary Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE), they will first complete a registration with the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association’s (CVMA) National Examining Board (NEB), by submitting the required documents, and then taking additional examinations and other steps to receive a Certificate of Qualification from the Canadian National Examining Board (NEB). These examinations include;

  • Veterinary Licensing Examination Process
  • Basic and Clinical Sciences Examination
  • Clinical Proficiency Examination
  • North American Veterinary Licensing Examination
Visit the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association (CVMA) website to gain more information on the examination requirements.

Veterinary Technologist: If they graduated from a veterinary technology or nursing program that is not accredited by the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association or the American Veterinary Medical Association, there are two assessment routes they can explore:

  • Alberta Process: This involves applying directly through the ABVMA website
  • PAVE: This route goes through the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). PAVE for Veterinary Technicians is a pathway for veterinary technicians/nurses who are graduates of international, non-accredited veterinary technology/nursing programs to practice in the United States and Canada. Learn more about the PAVE route
Refer to the veterinarian licensing flowchart on the ABVMA website to view the required steps for veterinarian licensing.
Licensing Flow Chart

How You Can Support New Hires

How employers can support newly hired internationally trained veterinary professionals:
  • Employers may want to consider helping an internationally trained new hire with the costs of becoming registered with the NEB and/or licensed with the ABVMA to support their transition to Alberta. License types are most easily reviewed by checking out the flowchart on the ABVMA website. Click on each box for additional information.
  • Also, any local assistance that can be provided to newcomers is very appreciated in helping them settle into your community. For ideas, visit the Alberta Newcomers site and the Canadian government Newcomers site.