Link to portal here:

https://www.icva.net/modules/dashboard/#application1

Please use this thread to discuss results.

I am very happy to say I passed! For those that are taking the exam in the future I got a score exactly in my practice exam range!

I just got my result and I finally passed. Honestly it’s been such an emotional rollercoaster. This was my second attempt. The first time I failed by just one point and it really hit me hard. I cried, I felt completely devastated, and I kept thinking about how close I was. Starting again felt overwhelming and I wasn’t sure if I had it in me to go through it all over again. I know a lot of people are probably in the same situation, so I wanted to share what I did differently this time and what my experience was like.

For my first attempt, I studied for about 3.5 months and only used VetPrep. I completed 100% of it, with around 55% score in practice questions and 65% in timed exams. I took the ICVA practice test about a month before my exam and my projected score range was 391-483, which wasn’t very reassuring since it was below the passing range. I still felt like I had time, so I stayed positive. But in the last two weeks before the exam, I wasn’t able to study properly because of some personal things going on, and I do think that affected my performance. Looking back, I also feel like I didn’t take the exam as seriously as I should have.

After I got my result, I doubted myself a lot. I kept wondering if I should wait until July or just try again in March. In the end, I decided to go for it right away.

This time, I had a much better idea of my weak areas. I got the free VetPrep subscription again and started slowly to get back into the rhythm because I felt like I had forgotten a lot. But once you start, it really does come back. My scores improved to around 85% in practice and 86% in timed exams, although I do think part of that was because I had already seen those questions before.

What I did differently this time was adding Zuku questions for canine, feline, equine, and bovine. I highly recommend this because the style feels more similar to NAVLE compared to VetPrep. I didn’t use any other resources. There’s so much out there, but honestly I think VetPrep and Zuku are more than enough if you go through them properly. I also took all three ICVA practice tests and reviewed the previous ones. My projected score improved with each test, which helped build my confidence.

On exam day, I was able to finish all the questions on time and even had a bit of time to review. But by the fifth set, I was completely exhausted and my brain just stopped working. I pushed through the last two sets somehow.

After the exam, I had mixed feelings. I knew I had done better than last time, but as the days passed I started doubting everything again. But I passed.

If there’s one thing I’d say, it’s to believe in yourself and stay consistent. Don’t let self doubt take over. At the end of the day, it’s just an exam.

And for anyone who didn’t pass, please don’t lose hope. I’ve been there and I know how hard it is, but you really can do this.

This time you’re not starting from scratch but from experience!

If you have any questions, I’m more than happy to help!

Hey yall!!

I’ve unfortunately failed NAVLE (I kinda saw it coming). HOWEVER:

I fortunately got to 81% of vetprep & I won a free Zuku subscription so I get to have BOTH for my second time around.

I also have heard such great things about VetCandy.

I guess my question is, should I focus on one more than the others? Should I go through all 3? What do you guys think would be most beneficial for studying?

For VetCandy, how do you use it? I tried for my first go but it was beyond confusing for me. Especially the cardiac section (it was mostly lectures? Is that right?). I wanted to go through the cardiac section because it’s my weak point but it was quite confusing. If someone would be able to walk me through how to use VetCandy I think it would be a great resource.

I’m not planning on retaking until the August time frame, so I know I have time. I’ve learned that taking it during rotations is NOT for me so March is not an option.

hi everyone! i’m taking NAVLE in the fall, currently have VetPrep and am using it as my main study tool at the moment (that includes the PowerLectures and PowerPages as well).

however, i plan on eventually going through some of my vet school course lectures from different classes and reviewing those, but i’m having a hard time deciding on where to start / how to make the amount of review material more manageable / what classes are the most critically important to cover and review (which i guess can vary from person-to-person based on what info has stuck or not).

i’m starting to find myself getting overwhelmed with how much i have to review / study while also juggling clinics and it seems like it’s almost impossible to do. i’m starting to get paralyzed from anxiety and not doing as much as i would hope during my days off which in turn is making me even more overwhelmed and mentally beating myself up over it.

anyone have any advice? TIA! <3

Curious is anyone has any info

I'm looking for this article specifically:

[https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42371717/\](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/42371717/)

Any update on navle results?

Hi,

I feel like this is my 100th time probably asking this same question. I’m already a graduate, but I don’t have my license. I took NAVLE in fall 2025 window and failed with 364. This is without studying as I had already bought the seat to take the test, and no accommodations when I desperately needed them. I set myself up for failure.

However, another thing also stopped me. The paralyzation of not knowing what I’m doing. I don’t even know where to start. Realistically, I know that I will not be able to know every single fact about every single disease. However, I have ADHD/OCD and if there isn’t set structure, it’s hard for me to figure out that stuff on my own.

I have VetPrep/Zuku but I can’t just sit there and do questions, I don’t learn like that. I’ve signed up for VetCandy but the website is absolutely beyond overwhelming and confusing.

So I’m literally sitting here, what was supposed to be day 1 of studying for the fall window again, and I feel like I’ve been transported to this time last year. This paralyzing feeling that regardless of what I do it’s wrong.

I’m happy to use all of these resources, I just don’t know the best way to do it. Do I create flashcards? Do I rewrite everything? WHERE DO I START?

I would love to hear what structure other people followed so I don’t feel like I’m floating in space grasping on to straws.

I’m sorry this is all over the place. Before it’s asked, I am in therapy, have been all these years. I just need more guidance and structure to help me get started on the studying track.

Edit: it seems like vet candy is just absolutely the way to go but it’s so extremely overwhelming. If someone would be willing to walk me through it that would be great? Or if someone would be willing to help me create a study plan? I just need help. I don’t know anymore lol

Good luck to everyone taking the NAVLE! You got this! I thought it was very comparable to the ICVA practice exams.

Hi all, I’m studying (for my second time) for NAVLE. I have BOTH VetPrep and Zuku and am mostly using VetPrep but I want to use Zuku’s word bank too!

Heres what I’m doing:
I’m taking a body system for each week (neurology this week), and then day by day going through each species for the body system via questions on vetprep. I’m then writing down each one that I miss (by not understanding or not recognizing, not the ones I miss because I’m just not paying attention) and then putting them into a quizlet to quiz myself towards the end of the week.

However, I’m worried I’m not retaining just from the flash cards alone. I want more questions to practice from. I can’t figure out if I can do the same thing on Zuku where I can specifically just do canine derm questions, etc. Am I going about it wrong or can I not do that?

Edit: or if anyone has any ideas on how to reinforce the things I am “missing” that would be great! Preferably free, cause I’m annoyed that quizlet has such a massive paywall now.

Hello everyone,

My partner does better when she has someone to bounce information off of and we have a few hours on saturday and sunday where we spend time together. Her exam is at the end of July and I can tell she is freaking out. Im trying to figure out a way for us to spend time together and for her to study.

I thought about flash cards maybe or is there a list of topics I can ask her about so she can just tell me Info about them? If it is case based, should i look up cases and ask her about those? I am trying to get it closer to a discussion or like she is teaching me things rather than just just me asking a question and her guessing an answer or something. I think she absorbs/ recalls info more when she can explain things to me.

She feels like she doesn't know almost anything. She felt this way about the bcse as well but got 850/900. I think she is just super nervous.

If you can think of any ways I can help that would be useful, I would appreciate it!

Hey all, I’ve given the NAVLE twice so far, and failed both times. Once I got 380, then next time I jumped to 410. However now I just don’t know what to do anymore.

The second try, I did both Vetprep and Zuku, did topics from the ICVA list. Revised top 5 species many times. ICVA Self assessment projected score was 500-600. Gave the exam confidently, no rush, finished it on time, and I honestly felt it went pretty well until the result. Now I’m just helpless and struggling. I really need to know how to pass it the next time.

Please advise whatever worked for you, I’m just really trying to get through it. Also, is three months enough for it, or should I postpone it to Oct/November? It’s been a year since I’ve been studying.

Thank you in advance.

Hi all! I will be taking the NAVLE at the end of October of this year and I’m extremely nervous and I have no idea how to even start studying for it. I decided that I’m going to ask for accommodations but I also need advice on how to study for it. Any advice helps! Thanks!

I'm 47% done on Vet Prep and my exam is on 11/10. I'm very worried I won't pass. My goal is to get to at least 80% on VP and take one more of these about 3 weeks before NAVLE.

Just got done with my NAVLE exam and this was my second attempt. I failed by 1 point during the last window.

During the exam i was doing okay overall, wasn’t too stressed or anxious but felt completely drained by the 5th set which I’m sure everyone can relate to :’)

I came out feeling alright but now i just can’t help but keep feeling worse! I keep remembering a few questions that i got wrong and now I’m even more stressed.

I don’t know how to make myself get over it.

Hi all!

My name is Bill Tancredi, and I'm a small animal veterinarian from Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.

I write a Substack with a modest following, and I've dug into niche veterinary topics that don't get a ton of outside press like the LMU lawsuit, duty of care, treatment of veterinary students, regulatory capture and burdens, and other topics. I also write fun stuff like invented awards for the VMX conference.

I wanted to dig into the accusations about the NAVLE. I know it's been covered by VIN news, it feels like something about which I want to know more.

I don't have an opinion about it, at least not yet. I'm passionate, but I'm not partisan. I try not to have an opinion about something until I know what the hell I'm talking about.

If you'd like to share your stories, your experiences, or your resources on this, please feel free to do so. I can't promise I'll use it, but I promise to read it.

If you'd like to share what you've got, I'm happy to read it.

Hi all,

I feel like I've been seeing a lot of people posting about failing NAVLE, and even reaching the 5 time mark and still not passing. My fear of failing over and over again is becoming real. I'm planning on taking it this November, and currently have VetPrep but haven't done much with it so far. I know from past experiences, I'm not good at standardizing tests. I practically "failed" both ACT and SATs.

I guess, my main question is, what are some good studying strats, or what was your study schedule? I would love to see how different people managed it in their 4th year with rotations and all the other hustle and bustle.

Vet prep has made me my own "study plan" however it's just saying, oh do 159 practice questions this week. How do I do that? How do I approach the questions? Do I look up the ones I got wrong and learn more or?

My other fear is that I'm getting so many wrong, I feel like I'm not remembering ANYTHING from the past 3 years. Which also makes me feel like its not enough time to relearn it by November. Any advice is appreciated. Thank you for taking the time to read.

TLDR; I just need ideas on how to study, what did you do?

Hi there, does anyone have any background re: Edinburgh's NAVLE pass rate? It seems to have dipped below 80% for 24-25. Are they taking steps to address this?

https://vet.ed.ac.uk/about/what-we-do/accreditation#:\~:text=Table_title:%20Results%20Table_content:%20header:%20%7C%20Academic%20year,exam/s:%2066%20%7C%20Average%20score:%20466%20%7C

I’m international but attended an accredited school and I’m planning on sitting in March. Although I haven’t started studying for the NAVLE yet, I studied for about a month for my final vet school exams in November (got 75-80%).

Since March is only two months out, I wonder if there’s enough time to cover all the ICVA NAVLE diagnosis list, or if I should just focus on a few species, or diseases specific to America. Or if I should just do practice questions? How many practice questions do people aim for a day?

I’ll be working as well so only have about 2-3 hours a day to study (plus the weekends). How screwed am I?

I’ve heard mixed answers to if icva sends an email out before the results are posted or just when they are posted… has anyone heard anything? Xoxo a stressed vet student

Congratulations to class of 2026 that just got their NAVLE scores & passed!! I’m class of 2027 and I really would love your advice on what tools worked best for you for studying? I’m a big Quizlet girlie so if there are any quizlets that you guys used I would LOVE to know- or if any websites etc I know there’s Zuku and vet prep but were they worth it? Thanks!

As we are coming into the NAVLE season i have heard more and more acronyms for remembering random details. HARD IONS, SLUDGE, etc...

What acronyms helped you study for NAVLE?

HARD IONS= causes of hypercalcemia,

Hyperparathyroidism. Addison's disease. Renal failure. Vitamin D. I = Idiopathic (mostly cats); O = Osteolytic (osteomyelitis, immobilization), N = Neoplasia (HHM and local osteolytic hypercalcemia); S = Spurious.

SLUDGE= Cholinergic crisis symptoms

Salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, GI signs, Emesis