As per Reg. 1093, all applicants must demonstrate proficiency in either English or French to be eligible for licensure with the College. If the applicant’s primary and secondary education was conducted in English or French, or if the undergraduate veterinary education was conducted in English or French, the applicant is considered to have fulfilled the College’s language proficiency requirement.
If the applicant’s primary and secondary education and undergraduate veterinary education was conducted in a language other than English or French, the applicant can satisfy the language requirements by submitting evidence of proficiency to the College in one of two ways:
objective evidence of proficiency is demonstrated by satisfactory test results taken within the last two years in each area of language competence; OR, if test results have expired,
other evidence that they are able to communicate in English or French at a level of proficiency that is sufficient for the practise of veterinary medicine.
Acceptable Test Results
The Registrar will generally accept one of the following sets of objective test results as evidence of language proficiency. The College also accepts the language tests used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (International English Language Testing System – General - IELTS General; Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program - CELPIP General; Test d’évaluation de français - TEF; Test de connaissance du français -(TCF), Pearson Test of English (PTE). If you have results from one of these tests, please contact licensure staff.
| English Test | Minimum Score | Details |
Internet‐based TOEFL (iB‐TOEFL)
| Reading – 23
| No minimum overall score is required. Must achieve at least the minimum passing scores for each of the four sections of the exam. |
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) – Academic Version | Listening ‐ 6.5 | Must achieve an overall score of at least 6.5. Must achieve the minimum passing score for each of the three sections. |
| Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) | Listening – 60 Writing ‐ 50 Speaking – 60 | An overall score of no less than 60 must be achieved. |
| Michigan English Language Assessment Battery (MELAB) | Reading – 85 Listening – 85 Writing – 85 Speaking ‐ 3 | |
| French Test | Minimum Score | Details |
Exam of French of the Office de la langue francaise (OLF) of the Government of Quebec | Writing – 60 Writing comprehension – 60 Oral communication – 60 Oral comprehension ‐ 60 | No minimum overall score is required. |
Applicants must provide a score report for one of the language proficiency tests that is no more than two years old. Applicants must achieve the minimum scores for all required sections of a test on the same administration or attempt.
Test results must be submitted as follows:
Test | Method of submission | What to do |
iB‐TOEF
| Send scores directly to the College through the Internet | Visit http://www.toeflgoanywhere.org/ and enter the College’s name into the search engine. The CVO’s institution code is 3981. |
IELTS
| The College will verify results online through the IELTS portal. | Send a legible copy of test results to the College for verification. College staff must be able to read the Test Report Form number in the bottom right hand corner of the report. |
CAEL,OLF and MELAB | Test scores must be received directly from the testing institution. | Provide the testing institution with the College’s address. |
Other Evidence
The Registrar will consider other evidence that the applicant is able to communicate in English or French at a level of proficiency that is sufficient for the practise of veterinary medicine.
The process of providing sufficiently persuasive information to establish to the Registrar’s satisfaction that the applicant has met the language proficiency requirement is substantially more onerous than that of taking one of the standard language proficiency tests. Nevertheless, individuals have the right under the legislation to have the Registrar consider other evidence should an applicant wish to do so.
There is no restriction on the type or amount of information that may be submitted by the applicant to support the application. The following is a list of examples of what might be submitted with a cover letter:
Evidence of having authored veterinary publications in English or French
Evidence from a professor/supervisor attesting to language proficiency over a period of time (such as a residency or graduate program in an English speaking institution)
Evidence of a long‐standing history of working in a veterinary‐related environment where services were provided in English or French (verified by regulated professionals or recognized academics)
Evidence of successful English or French language proficiency test scores other than those listedin this policy.
(revised by Registration Committee ‐ 2016)