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Title: Veterinarian
Alternate Title:
Description:
Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine

Subject: Health Professionals
Veterinary Medicine
Creation Date: 9/11/2008 2:18:20 PM
Modification Date: 7/1/2025 9:43:37 AM
Agency Name: Veterinary Medicine, Minnesota Board of
Agency URL: https://mn.gov/boards/veterinary-medicine/
Agency Description: The mission of the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine is to promote, preserve, and protect the health, safety and welfare of the public and animals through the effective control and regulation of the practice of veterinary medicine.
Agency Phone: 651-201-2844
Agency Fax: 651-201-2842
Agency URL: https://mn.gov/boards/veterinary-medicine/
Agency Address: Veterinary Medicine, Minnesota Board of
335 Randolph Avenue, Suite 215

St. Paul
MN
55102
Unit Name: Email
Unit URL:
Unit Description:
Unit Phone: Unit Fax: Contact person(s): vet.med@state.mn.us
Unit URL:
Audience: Hold Application URL: https://vet.hlb.state.mn.us/#/login
Renewal URL:
Versa URL:
Requirements:
Rules: 9100.0100 - .1000

Statutes: 156.001

Forms:

Applying for First Veterinary License

Applicants not currently licensed (including senior students)

*If you would like to be seen in person, email vet.med@state.mn.us to schedule an appointment with a staff member. 
 
Applications will be deemed abandoned if all licensing requirements are not completed within one year after the application has been filed with the board.

The following documentation must be provided to the Board to support the application: (Documents can be sent digitally as PDF attachments to vet.med@state.mn.us)
  1. Online Application  *Application progress can be checked by logging in to your account at Login. Applications will be deemed abandoned if all licensing requirements are not completed within one year after the application has been filed with the board. Licenses and applications MUST be under your full legal name. Application and Criminal Background Check Process Flow Chart

  2. Fees (Effective July 1, 2025) All payments must be in U.S. funds and are non-refundable. 

    - $75 Application Fee (NOTE: This is required and is separate from the NAVLE application fee which is paid to NBVME) 
    - $75 Jurisprudence Examination Fee 
    - $32 Criminal Background Check Fee
    - $300 Initial 2-year License Fee

    TOTAL: $482

  3. Criminal Background Check information. Beginning on June 1, 2016, Minnesota law and Board policy now require that all applicants for initial licensure or license reinstatement must complete a fingerprint-based criminal background check (Minn. Stat. § 214.075). When you apply for licensure, the criminal background check fee ($32) must be bundled into your other licensing fees and paid at the same time. After you have paid all required licensing fees and the criminal background check fee, you will be e-mailed a packet containing additional information and directions from the Criminal Background Check Program. You are responsible for having your fingerprints taken promptly and for completing all required paperwork so as to not delay finalizing your license application. Previously taken fingerprints cannot be used. Some agencies charge a fee for fingerprinting services. (Please note: The report received from the BCA and FBI is only valid for a year. Applications that are not completed within a year of the CBC will be invalid and no fees refunded.) NOTICE: Criminal Background Check Information Update: Once you have submitted your application, you will receive a packet via email from the Criminal Background Check Program with in 24-48 hours. Please complete this and return the fingerprinting packet as soon as possible so that your background check can be done while you are submitting the other required items for your application. 

  4. Notarized letters of reference (Affidavits) from at least 2 veterinarians and 3 other adults who are not related to you setting forth how long a time, when and under what circumstances they have known you and any other facts as may be proper to determine your qualifications for licensure.. Letters of reference are considered affidavits and therefore require a notarized signature on each letter. You may search for a notary using the Minnesota Secretary of State's notary website. Please have veterinarians include in their letter an active license number and state where currently practicing (veterinarians may be practicing in a state other than Minnesota). Letters MUST be signed. Notarized letters may be sent separately from the application form via email to vet.med@state.mn.us

  5. Score reports of all previously taken national examinations in veterinary medicine, NAVLE (or NBE and CCT); certified by the Veterinary Information Verifying Agency if scores were not already sent to the Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine at a past exam date.

  6. Copy of discharge papers if you have served in the military. Documents can be sent via email to vet.med@state.mn.us

  7. Either:

        a. Proof of graduation (copy of your diploma or official transcript) conferring the DVM degree from an AVMA accredited College of Veterinary Medicine; or a letter from the Dean attesting that you are a student in good standing, your enrollment date, and anticipated graduation date if you are applying before your anticipated graduation date. NOTE FOR CURRENTLY GRADUATING UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA STUDENTS: The Dean will provide a list to the Board, but it is your responsibility to provide the Board with a copy of your diploma or transcripts after you have successfully completed graduation requirements. Documents can be sent via email to vet.med@state.mn.us

        b. If enrolled in/ graduated from a non-accredited school, verification of ECFVG or PAVE enrollment and anticipated completion date is needed. Documents can be sent via email to vet.med@state.mn.us

  8. Jurisprudence exam (see paragraph below for details)

The Minnesota Jurisprudence Examination is a 50-question open book examination on the laws and rules governing the practice of veterinary medicine in Minnesota. An applicant is eligible to take the Jurisprudence examination when all other requirements for licensure have been submitted, including a passing score on the NAVLE (or NBE and CCT) examination. You are allowed to take the jurisprudence exam before the Board receives Criminal Background Check results.  You will receive a copy of the jurisprudence exam electronically at the email address you provided on your application. Hard copies are available by request. There is a two-hour time limit for taking the exam. The jurisprudence exam will be sent to you once all other required documents have been received.  Passing score for the jurisprudence exam is 90%. If an attempt is unsuccessful there will be a $75 fee to retake the exam and a different version of the exam will be sent to you. Applicants are allowed to take the exam up to 5 times. If special accommodations are needed for the exam, please reach out to the Board.

Even though you’ve passed the NAVLE, Jurisprudence Exam, received your diploma, and have a clean background check, you CANNOT practice veterinary medicine until the Board issues you a license. 
Applications will be deemed abandoned if all licensing requirements are not completed within one year after the application has been filed with the board.

Temporary and Specialty VMC Clinician Licenses CANNOT be applied for online. You MUST use the designated paper form. 

Fees:

See Fees

Fees Effective July 1, 2025

Application Fees

Veterinarian Application Fee - $75
Veterinarian Jurisprudence Exam - $75
Veterinarian Initial 2-year License - $300 
Veterinarian Criminal Background Check - $32

Veterinary Technician Application Fee - $75
Veterinary Technician Jurisprudence Exam - $75
Veterinary Technician  Initial 2-year License - $100 
Veterinary Technician Criminal Background Check - $32

License Fees
Veterinarian 2-year License Renewal (Active) - $300
Veterinarian 2-year License Renewal (Inactive) - $150
Veterinarian Late Renewal Penalty (Active) - $150
Veterinarian Late Renewal Penalty (Inactive) - $100

Veterinary Technician 2-year License Renewal (Active) - $100
Veterinary Technician 2-year License Renewal (Inactive) - $50
Veterinary Technician Late Renewal Penalty (Active) - $50
Veterinary Technician Late Renewal Penalty (Inactive) - $25

Professional Firm Fees
Professional Firm Registration - $100
Professional Firm Annual Report - $25

Miscellaneous Fees
Veterinarian/Veterinary Technician  License Verification Sent to Another State Board - $25
Duplicate License (Replacement) - $25
Continuing Education Sponsor Course Approval - $75
Mailing List - $250
NSF Check Fee - $30
Period of Issuance:

2 years (renews on March 1 every other year)


Length of Determination:

Approximately 30 days for applicants who have already taken and passed the national examination. For new examinees, the application deadline is 92 days prior to the national examination administration date.


Other Info:
Activity: Veterinary Medicine
License Detail URL:

Veterinary Medicine, Minnesota Board of

Online Services

License Verification

Minnesota Board of Veterinary Medicine


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