Veterinarian License Requirements & Application

Before you apply

If you intend to apply for a license to practice veterinary medicine in Maryland, be sure you understand all requirements and submit all documents. The State Board will not review your application until all materials are received in our office. 

License application types

Type #1: First-time Maryland license, NAVLE score less than 5 years old

If you have never been licensed before in Maryland and your NAVLE test score is less than five years old, you will have to submit: 

• Application for a Maryland Veterinary License: An online application.  
• Transcripts: A school authenticated copy of your college transcripts must be sent to us directly from your school. 
  • Emailed transcripts may be sent from the institution to us at [email protected]. 
  • Regular mailed transcripts must be sent in a sealed envelope from the institution and mailed to: Maryland Department of Agriculture / Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners, 50 Harry S Truman Parkway, Annapolis, MD 21401. 
  • If your transcript is not in English, then an English translation must be provided. 
  • If your school is not accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), you must also submit a certificate from either the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG), which is available through the AVMA, or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE), which is available through the AAVSB. 
• Test Scores:
  • If you applied through the Maryland Licensing Board to take the NAVLE within the last 12 months, your scores will be transferred to us automatically from the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (NBVME). You needn't do anything.
  • If you applied through another State Board to take the NAVLE or took them through Maryland more than 12 months ago, you will have to ensure that your scores are transferred to us by the Veterinary Information Verifying Agency, 380 West 22nd Street, Suite 101, Kansas City, MO 64108. Telephone: 877-698-8482. 
  • If your test scores are more than 5 years old and you have not practiced or taught veterinary medicine continuously in the preceding 5 years, you will need to obtain new test scores before being able to apply. Information for taking the NAVLE can be found here. ICVA - NAVLE.
• Photograph: Upload one head shot taken within the past six months.
• Letters of Good Standing (if applicable): If you are now licensed, or have ever been licensed, in another state or jurisdiction, Letters of Good Standing must be sent to us directly from all other State Boards and/or any other jurisdiction where you were licensed. These letters may be emailed from an official state office; however, faxes are not accepted.
• Documentation: If you have any pending or past disciplinary action with another state Board or if you have any criminal convictions (other than minor traffic violations), provide complete copies of related documentation.

Type #2: First-time Maryland license, NAVLE score more than 5 years old

If you've never been licensed in Maryland and your scores are more than five years old and one of the three bullets below applies:  

• Engaged in the clinical practice of veterinary medicine continuously for the 5 years preceding application;
• Taught clinical veterinary medicine for the 5 years preceding application at an institution accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association; or
• Relocated outside the U.S. because either you or your spouse served the government,

Then, you will need to submit:

• Application for a Maryland Veterinary License: Apply online.  
• Resume: A resume of all professional activities.
• Graduates of Non-Accredited Schools: Any applicant who has graduated, or will graduate, from a school that is not accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) must also submit a certificate from either the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG), which is available through the AVMA,  or the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE), which is available through the AAVSB. 
• Photograph: Upload one head shot taken within the past six months. 
• Letters of Good Standing (if applicable): If you are now licensed, or have ever been licensed, in another State or jurisdiction, you will have to have letters of good standing sent to us directly from the other State Boards or jurisdictions to this office. These letters may be emailed from an official State Office; however, faxes are not accepted.
• Documentation: If you have any pending or past disciplinary action with another state Board or if you have any criminal convictions (other than minor traffic violations), provide complete copies of related documentation.

Type #3: Reinstatement of a lapsed license

If you have a Maryland veterinary license that expired more than 1 year ago but within the last 5 years, you may apply for reinstatement of the license. You will have to submit: 

• An application for reinstatment. Apply online by logging into your OneStop portal. If you do not already have a OneStop portal you may create one using the email address on file with the Veterinary Board and your previous license information will be there. Once logged in, go to your Dashboard then select your license number. Once there click on the green actions tab and enter your CEs​ for the years you were lapsed then select the reinstatement application. ​(If you are uncertain about which email is on file or you do not see your license information please email us at [email protected].) 
• Continuing Education: Proof of 18 CEs for each year your license was lapsed. (For instance, if your license was lapsed for 2 years, you will have to show proof of earning 36 credits between the time your license lapsed and the date you submit your application for reinstatement);
• Resume: A current resume of all professional activity or CV.
• Letters of Good Standing: Licensure verifications from other state licensing boards or other jurisdictions where you are, or have ever been licensed;
• Documentation: If you have any pending or past disciplinary action with another state Board or if you have any criminal convictions (other than minor traffic violations), provide complete copies of related documentation.

If you have been licensed in Maryland in the past but your license has lapsed 5 years or more, you must apply as if you have never been licensed in Maryland.

Late renewals

If you have a Maryland veterinary license that has lapsed less than 12 months, you may renew y​our license online. Learn more about how to renew your license.

Examinations for veterinarians

National examination

The North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) is offered twice in Maryland - once in the spring and once in the fall. For information on applying to take the NAVLE and testing window dates, please contact the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners at P.O. Box 1356, Bismarck, ND 58502, Tel: (701) 224-0332, or visit The International Council for Veterinary Assessment.

State examination

The Maryland State Board Examination is a jurisprudence exam. ​To take this exam, the candidate shall read and comprehend the laws and regulations governing the practice of veterinary medicine in the State of Maryland. Only after this has been completed may the candidate sign a statement attesting to this fact before a Notary Public. The application to take the State Board Examination is the same application as that used to become licensed in Maryland.

Application approval process  

Use of your application information

The information you supply is used by the Board to determine whether to issue you a license. You have a right to inspect, amend, or correct this information. Under State Government Article, Section 10-617, Annotated Code of Maryland, this information would be generally available for public inspection. This information is not routinely shared with state, federal, or local government agencies.

If you have questions, call the Board office at 410-841-5862 or email us at [email protected].  

Review & processing timeline

Type #1 applications that are routine can be processed within about two weeks after all documentation is received and verified; however, the State Board reviews all Type #2 and Type #3 applications. The Board is scheduled to meet on the fourth Thursday of every month. If you have a job offer waiting, be sure you take this step into account.  

What happens after approval

If you applied online and your application is approved:

• You will receive an email that your application has been approved. You will be sent a link to complete your registration process and pay the registration fee.
• A license and registration certificate will be emailed to you shortly after you pay your registration fee. We no longer mail physical copies of the licenses and certificates upon registration.  

You must have your license and registration complete and in your possession before you may begin practicing in Maryland. 

Application & registration fees 

• Application Fee: $300
• License/Registration Fee (paid after your application is approve): 
  • $300 between July 1 and Dec. 31
  • $150 between Jan. 1 and June 30.
• Annual Renewal: $300
• Late Fee (renewing a registration after July 1): $200

You can begin your application and come back to finish it at a later date. You will not be charged an application fee until you are ready to submit it. 

All applicants are required to attest that they have read and comprehend the laws and regulations governing the practice of veterinary medicine in Maryland. Failure to adhere to state regulations can result in disciplinary action. 

After you are licensed 

Register with the PDMP

Veterinarians applying for, or renewing, an individual CDS prescribing permit must register with the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program.​ Veterinarians are currently exempt from reporting to the PDMP, but you must register. You will not be able to obtain a CDS permit without registering.

Please direct questions about PDMP registration to PDMP program managers.

Continuing education requirements

Learn about continuing education requirements, including Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) permit requirements.

Substance abuse or mental health support

Do you have a substance abuse or mental health issue? Get help from the Maryland Healthcare Professionals Program. If you self-refer, the program will not contact the Board. Don't wait. Get help today. We need you!

Resources

• National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
• Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
• AVMA-accredited veterinary medical colleges
• AVMA-accredited veterinary technology programs