Veterinary School Abroad for American Students
By Muntasir • Published Jul 26, 2024 • Updated Sep 20, 2026 • Study Abroad
The AVMA Council on Education (COE) accredits veterinary programs in the UK, Ireland, Australia, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, South Korea, and the Caribbean. Graduating from one of these lets you sit the NAVLE and get licensed in the US the same way a US vet school graduate does.
🎓 AVMA COE accredited schools include Royal Veterinary College, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol, Liverpool, and Nottingham in the UK, University College Dublin, Melbourne, Sydney, Murdoch, and Queensland in Australia, Massey in New Zealand, Utrecht in the Netherlands, VetAgro Sup in France, Seoul National University, Ross University, and St. George's University
A degree from a non-accredited foreign vet school means extra steps through ECFVG or PAVE certification before you can sit the NAVLE
The NAVLE is the licensing exam every vet needs to practice in the US or Canada, regardless of where you studied
Why look at veterinary school outside the US
US veterinary schools admit a small fraction of applicants each cycle, and the total number of accredited seats has grown slowly compared to application volume. A number of veterinary programs outside the US and Canada carry full accreditation from the AVMA Council on Education (COE) , the same body that accredits US vet schools, which means graduates face the same path to US licensure as a domestic graduate.
Schools currently accredited by the AVMA Council on Education
| School | Country |
|---|---|
| Royal Veterinary College | United Kingdom |
| University of Bristol | United Kingdom |
| University of Nottingham | United Kingdom |
| University of Liverpool | United Kingdom |
| University of Glasgow | United Kingdom |
| University of Edinburgh | United Kingdom |
| University College Dublin | Ireland |
| Murdoch University | Australia |
| University of Sydney | Australia |
| University of Melbourne | Australia |
| University of Queensland | Australia |
| VetAgro Sup | France |
| Utrecht University | Netherlands |
| Massey University | New Zealand |
| Seoul National University | South Korea |
| Ross University | St Kitts and Nevis |
| St. George's University | Grenada |
Check the AVMA's current list before you apply anywhere, since accreditation status can change and this list is a snapshot, not a permanent guarantee.
What accreditation actually buys you
Graduating from an AVMA COE accredited school lets you sit the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) the same way a US vet school graduate does, without extra certification steps first. State veterinary boards license you based on your NAVLE score and your degree, and an accredited foreign degree satisfies the education requirement most states set.
If your school is not AVMA accredited
Graduates of non-accredited foreign veterinary schools need to go through the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) certification program or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE) before most state boards will let them sit the NAVLE. Both programs involve credential review, English proficiency documentation, and a clinical proficiency examination, adding time and cost on top of your veterinary education. Research which certification path your target state accepts before you enroll anywhere.
The NAVLE licensing exam
The NAVLE is a computer-based exam covering small animal, large animal, and mixed practice content, and it is the exam every veterinarian needs to pass for a license in the US or Canada regardless of where they studied. AVMA-accredited program graduates typically sit the NAVLE during their final year, while ECFVG and PAVE candidates sit it after completing their certification program's clinical exam.
Caribbean, UK, or Australia: how they differ
Caribbean programs like Ross University and St. George's University run a US-style curriculum, often with preclinical years on-island followed by clinical rotations at partner US veterinary schools, giving students US clinical exposure before graduation. UK, Irish, and Australian programs run longer five to six year integrated degrees that admit students earlier, closer to the UK undergraduate entry model, and clinical rotations happen at the home university's teaching hospital rather than a US partner site.
Weigh program length, clinical rotation location, and total cost against your own timeline and whether you want US clinical exposure built into your training before graduation.
Before you apply
Confirm current AVMA COE accreditation status for the exact program, not just the university
Ask about NAVLE pass rates for recent graduating classes
Check whether clinical rotations happen in the US, in-country, or both
Research licensing requirements in the state where you plan to practice, since a few states set added requirements for foreign-trained vets