I was wondering what the transition is like for a student who goes to a foreign vet school and then tries to come back to the US to practice?

I know in medicine, there are huge roadblocks every step along the way. The board exam represents a big challenge. Getting into a residency program represents a big challenge (and foreign medical graduates can often forget about applying to more competitive fields like derm, plastics, ortho, etc...)

I was wondering if there was a similar problem in the field of veterinary medicine?

Thanks for the help!

Well it's probably different for every foreign school. If you go to an AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) accredited school like me (I went to the University of Glasgow), you should have very few difficulties. You take your national and/or state board exams like every other vet student and get on with your life.

If you go to a non-AVMA accredited school, you are faced with more obstacles. You either take an exam in your earlier years of vet school (the PAVE) - and then take the nat'l/state boards, OR worse you go through the more gruelling CPE exam (something like that - a very expensive 2-3 day exam with a waiting list). That whole process is called the "ECFVG certification" (Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates). However - a lot of people go through this process and have few problems (except the wait and the expense).

I still think it's very much worth it to go abroad and experience life from a different perspective. I don't regret it, $200,000 debt later.

I'm considering applying to Cambridge University's vet program, but it isn't one of the AVMA schools. Would going to a less prestigious school actually be better for getting back into a US practice?

I'm considering applying to Cambridge University's vet program, but it isn't one of the AVMA schools. Would going to a less prestigious school actually be better for getting back into a US practice?

It probably would be better from the point of view of getting back into a US practice. I'm English but planning to go to an AVMA accredited school so i can practice in the US if i want to. But just because they are less prestigious doesn't mean the course is worse, personally i didn't like the Cambridge course and therefore am not applying there.

Just my point of view :)

Katie

Thanks!

Any idea where I could get a list AVMA accredited schools?

AAVMC: http://www.aavmc.org/students_admissions/vet_schools.htm

Great resource- with web links to schools both in and outside the US; all AVMA accredited. Check it out :) .

AAVMC: http://www.aavmc.org/students_admissions/vet_schools.htm

Great resource- with web links to schools both in and outside the US; all AVMA accredited. Check it out :) .

Some schools are left out - not all AVMA schools are members of the AAVMC (American Assn. of Veterinary Medical Colleges).

Here are some I see missing:
- University of Utrecht (Netherlands)
- Sydney's veterinary school (Australia)
- Murdoch University (Australia)

Here's a link with the list of all AVMA-accredited schools: http://www.avma.org/education/cvea/colleges_accredited/allcolleges.asp

Also, I heard that Melbourne was just accredited (but you'll want to double-check before basing any decisions on this).

I just wanted to confirm that the University of Melbourne is also AVMA accredited. I know, since I attend uni here. :)

Our vet school at Sydney Uni is AVMA accredited too, as of this year. Our lecturers would be very disappointed if anyone thought otherwise :)

Check it out at www.vetsci.usyd.edu.au

Hi Doctors,
Its nice to find you all in one place, thats nice.
My name is Ahmed, I am graduated from Veterinary medicine Cairo University in Egypt 10 months ago. Bachelor of Veterinary Sciences 2006.I dont see it accredited school and hardly can find it on the map, lol

My intention is to work in the USA, so I would like to ask you how can i equalize my certificate to be able to work in the states and registered as a Veterinarian in USA?


Repectfully

[QUOTE=ahmad_kharbotly;4335733]
My intention is to work in the USA, so I would like to ask you how can i equalize my certificate to be able to work in the states and registered as a Veterinarian in USA?
[QUOTE]

You need to undergo the ECFVG (Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates) process:
http://www.avma.org/education/ecfvg/default.asp

[QUOTE=ahmad_kharbotly;4335733]
My intention is to work in the USA, so I would like to ask you how can i equalize my certificate to be able to work in the states and registered as a Veterinarian in USA?
[QUOTE]

You need to undergo the ECFVG (Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates) process:
http://www.avma.org/education/ecfvg/default.asp

Thank you for replying me.. :-)