First, check whether you need the AVE
Graduates whose degree is on AVBC's list of qualifications generally recognised for registration can usually apply to a registration board directly. Check that list, and the board in the state, territory or country where you want to work, before you plan around the AVE. Everyone else follows the three steps below.
The three steps
After passing the Clinical Examination you apply to the registration board in the state, territory or country where you will work.
| Step | What it is | Fee (AVBC 2026 schedule) |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Eligibility Assessment | Checks your degree (at least four years of study, a listed school), good standing and English test result | A$515 |
| 2. Preliminary (MCQ) Examination | 160 multiple-choice questions in two papers, held once a year in April | A$3,620 |
| 3. Final (Clinical) Examination | Five days of oral and practical exams, usually at the University of Queensland Gatton campus; sessions typically in June and November | A$9,325 |
Step by step
- Take an AVBC-approved English test (OET, IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic) unless you qualify for an exemption. Results stay valid for three years and must be valid at each stage.
- Register as a contact on the AVBC portal and submit the Eligibility Assessment while applications are open (5 October 2026 to 11 January 2027 for the 2027 cycle).
- If you're found eligible, apply for the MCQ before the closing date (1 February 2027) and pay the fee. No late applications are accepted.
- Sit both MCQ papers on the same day (16 April 2027). Results arrive by email within six weeks.
- Complete your anaesthesia and surgery case logs, signed by approved registered veterinarians.
- Sit the Clinical Examination within 3 years of passing the MCQ.
- Apply for registration with the board where you plan to work.
See where you stand in 10 minutes
Take the free AVE MCQ practice test. 15 questions, every answer explained.
What it costs
AVBC fees alone come to A$13,460 (A$515 + A$3,620 + A$9,325) if you pass each exam the first time. Add the English test, travel to the MCQ venue, and travel and accommodation for five days in Queensland for the Clinical Examination. Withdrawal fees apply: A$905 for the MCQ if you withdraw more than 4 weeks before the exam, and the full fee after that. A re-sit means paying the full fee again and waiting a year for the next MCQ.
How to prepare for the MCQ
- Study broadly. AVBC notes that candidates who qualified long ago or worked in a narrow field find the standard hard without substantial revision.
- Learn Australasian specifics: exotic and notifiable diseases, reporting duties, Hendra virus, tick paralysis, snakes, toxic plants, APVMA labels and withholding periods.
- Give production animals real time: cattle alone carry at least 13 of the 80 Paper 2 questions.
- Practise with timed, exam-style questions and read every explanation, including for the questions you got right.
- AVBC suggests NAVLE and PAVE practice material and the Mosby's and Saunders review books as extra sources of questions.
Frequently asked questions
How long does the AVE take?
At least a year from the MCQ in April to a Clinical Examination session later that year or the next, plus the eligibility step before it. Many candidates take two years or more, especially if they re-sit a stage.
Is the AVE the same for Australia and New Zealand?
Yes. Passing the AVE meets the examination requirement of the Australian state and territory boards and the Veterinary Council of New Zealand.
How long is my eligibility valid?
AVBC says eligibility assessments remain valid for three years.
Do I need a job offer or visa first?
Not to sit the exams. Visas and migration skills assessments are separate processes; AVBC also runs the migration skills assessment for veterinarians.
Official sources
- AVBC: Australasian Veterinary Examination
- AVBC: Schedule of Fees
- AVBC: Information for AVE Candidates (May 2026)
Practice tests for these certifications
This guide is general information, checked November 2026, not legal advice. the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) rules change; confirm with the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council (AVBC) before you apply.
