Support Foreign Vets Seeking US Licensure

The Foreign Veterinary Alliance Group is a professional community that is demanding effective and ethical treatment of foreign veterinarians attempting to seek licensure in the US. Currently the Educational Commision for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG) has a backlog of candidates for a limited number of Clinical Proficient Exams (CPE). Furthermore the methodology and pratices in place promote unecessary financial and emotional burdem to the applicant via long wait times and unclear scheduling availability. Routinely "CPE ready" candidates are having to wait over 12-24 months to get a CPE spot. Our profession is in crisis and there is an immediate demand for veterinarians. In the meantime, the AVMA has not presented a plan to solve the current backlog issue preventing hundreds of candidates for pursuing US licensure.

I have personally heard hardship stories of veterinarians with years of professional experience to offer to the community and have been unable to advance in the certification process due to the simple unavailability of CPE test openings. In the meantime, they have been working in positions that do not match their qualification level (outside of the industry or as veterinary assistants) - thus creates a disservice to pets, clinics and the colleagues at large.

Our objectives are clear - as outlined below

1 - Create transparency and Gain Current Information Re:

a. How many people are actively enrolled in the ECFVG program (each step). Most importantly

how many are CPE ready.

b.: How many exam openings take place each year

c.: When the openings will be released. No more checking every single day (multiple times a

day)

d.: Governing authority agreeing to mail alerts when a spot becomes available due to a

cancellation (this can be easily automated)

2 - Create steps to solve the current backlog issue

a.: Governing authority agreeing to engage with current testing centers (Vegas and Mississippi)

to increase number of offerings

b.: Governing authority agreeing to recruit additional testing centers

c.: Develop executable action plan in place to resolve the current backlog issues.

3 - Lobby for States to approve Restricted License pathways

a.: Work with AAVSB and local State Boards in creating standards around restricted license

b.: Promote Restricted License standards to ECFVG/industry at large

We have partnered with the top attorney firm in the veterinary industry (Mark Cushing - The Animal Policy Group) to advocate for the ECFVG community and the veterinary profession as a whole. The funds raised will serve to cover legal costs associated with holding the AVMA accountable and work with State Boards and legislature to create aditional licensure pathways until backlog is resolved (provisional licensure for candidates that have completed Step 1-3 of the ECFVG and have successfully passed teh North American Veterinary Licensing Exam - NAVLE).

The administration of the funds will be supervised by a charter of ECFVG candidates to ensure funds are being used in an appropriate manner. Financial Audits will be provided in a routine basis and on demand to ensure integrity of the process.

Together, we can tell the AVMA that we have what it takes to contribute to the profession, given they demonstrate the ability and willingness to properly support the ECFVG accreditation program.