PAVE Program
The Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences offers a one-year clinical program for PAVE students.
The program will help to increase your veterinary knowledge and improve your technical and clinical skills by requiring specific goals and outcomes for each rotation. In addition, students will improve their communication skills relating to veterinary medical terminology and develop client communication skills. Most importantly, students will become familiar with veterinary profession in North America.
More information on the Program for the Assessment of Veterinary Education Equivalence (PAVE).
Pave Program Information
The current fourth year PAVE program is 52 weeks, which includes two weeks of clinic orientation and two weeks of vacation. The actual program is 48 weeks. Each rotation is two weeks in length.
- What are the requirements?
- Must be a permanent resident or a United States citizen or possess the appropriate Visa (F1 student Visa) to remain in the United States.
- Must have graduated from a recognized school of veterinary medicine within the past
10 years and have passed the PAVE Qualifying Skills Exam.
- View the directory of AVMA recognized schools
- Applicant must provide a letter from AAVSB (American Association of Veterinary State Boards) verifying enrollment status. Letter should be sent via email directly from PAVE to vcsdept@okstate.edu.
- Applicants must be fluent in both written and spoken English
- TOEFL and IELTS scores are considered valid for two years after the test date.
- Scores from multiple reports cannot be combined. Candidates must achieve all section
requirements on the same score report. There are no exceptions to this policy.
- Alternative to english proficiency examinations
- Substantiation that the PAVE candidate has attended at least three years at a secondary high school or graduated from a post-secondary, professional veterinary school under which the complete language of instruction was English.
- Accepted documentation includes:
- a letter received directly from school officials stating the dates of attendance and verifying that the complete language of instruction was English AND
- a certified or notarized copy of the final high school or the professional veterinary school diploma or transcript.
- PAVE candidates who were homeschooled for all or part of their high school education (grades 9-12) may submit a letter from a school district official who had oversight on their home school curriculum to substantiate the primary language of instruction was English
- Documentation that the candidate has met the English Proficiency criteria is due at the time of application.
- Alternative to english proficiency examinations
- The applicant must provide copies (no original documents) of official documentation
(accompanied by English translation when in language other than English) of the following.
- A notarized copy of the transcript and the veterinary diploma from the university granting the veterinary degree in English translation if necessary.
- Three (3) letters of recommendation from veterinarians familiar with applicant’s veterinary knowledge and skills preferably from individuals who can evaluate the applicant’s clinical abilities through either work experience or volunteering of 20 hours or more per week under the supervision of North American educated veterinarians for one year or more. Recommendation letters should be mailed with other requested documents.
- Criteria for selection of applicants is based upon applicant’s exam scores to include, QSE, TOEFL, NAVLE (if completed), transcript grades, work/volunteer experience, and letters of reference.
- A personal phone interview may be requested.
- Applicants who do not meet the above requirements will not be considered and need not apply
- How do I apply?
- Submit the online PAVE Program Application.
- Send non-refundable application fee of $75 payable by check or money order to OSU Veterinary Clinical Sciences via mail.
- Send additional documents via mail along with application fee.
Additional Documents to Submit:
- Letter of intent (hand written)
- Curriculum Vitae
- Copy of English exam scores: TOEFL, TSE, TWE, IELTS
- Copy of current Visa/passport
- Copy of US social security card (if applicable)
- A letter from PAVE verifying enrollment and status.
- Copy of QSE and NAVLE if completed
- Notarized copy of veterinary diploma in English translation
- Notarized copy of transcript of grades from veterinary school in English translation and Explanation of point grading system.
- Three letters of recommendation from veterinarians you have worked with through either work or volunteer experience or instructors at your DVM school.
*Deposit fee payment can be made by check or money order payable to OSU VCS Department, or you may submit your deposit fee through Convera. Visit the OSU Bursar website and scroll to the section for International Payments and Domestic Wire Payments. For the ID information, enter 999999999.
Send additional documents and application fee to:
Lucinda Kershaw
Academic Center
Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences
OSU College of Veterinary Medicine
2115 W Farm Road
Stillwater, OK 74078-2041
USA - Application Timeline
Start Date Notification of Acceptance Mid-January (Rotation 2) July 15 Mid-May (Rotation 10) November 15 Mid-September (Rotation 18) March 15 - Tuition and Fees
Beginning May 2023, tuition for the PAVE Program is $45,000 for 48 weeks.
PAVE students are billed in two half payments. The first payment will be billed on the first day of the official program start date and the second payment will be billed beginning the 25th week of the program. Payment is due in full with no interest within 30 days of the time of billing. Students should plan for living expenses of approximately $20,000 in addition to tuition fees.
If a student withdraws or is dismissed before completing three rotations, a refund will be processed. The cost of completed rotations and the $500 non-refundable deposit fee will not be included in the refund. No refund will be given after completing three rotations.
- What is the acceptance process?
Applicants are notified via email of their acceptance into the program by receipt of the letter of offer with a deadline to submit a *non-refundable $500 deposit fee payable by check or money order to OSU Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences and a letter of acceptance. Payment of the deposit fee is required by the due date provided in the letter of offer to the applicant. The deposit fee is applied toward tuition. In addition to the required deposit fee, if applicant is not a US citizen or permanent resident, applicant will need to obtain the F1 Visa by completing the I-20 document and provide proof of financial support during their program at OSU. This information must be returned with the deposit fee and the applicant’s letter of acceptance.
Once the deposit fee and I-20 documents are received, a request will be made to OSU Immigration Services to process the I-20. Applicants are responsible for all visa expenses. Applicants completing the 48-week program are eligible for the OPT Visa which allows the applicant to work for one year on a student visa toward getting practical training to complement their education.
Students accepted into the Program are not enrolled through the Registrar’s Office like a traditional OSU student, but are enrolled via contract between the student and the Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. The program functions under the direction of the Veterinary Clinical Sciences Department Head.
*Deposit fee payment can be made by check or money order payable to OSU VCS Department, or you may submit your deposit fee through Western Union. Visit the OSU Bursar website and scroll to the section for International Payments and Domestic Wire Payments. For the ID information, enter 999999999.
- If I'm accepted, what additional information will be required?
- Documentation of rabies vaccinations or rabies titer within the past two years.
- Verification of immunizations: Complete the immunization form and send to vcsdept@okstate.edu.
- Students holding an F1 Visa are required to obtain student health insurance offered through OSU during their clinical year program.
- Students are required to obtain their own professional liability insurance through the AVMA before beginning externships.
- What supplies will I need?
- laptop
- 5½” bandage scissors
- 7½” bandage scissors
- 5½” Kelly forceps
- 5½” suture scissors
- Penlight
- Veterinary pleximeter
- Stethoscope
- Scrubs (any plain color, no embroidery)
- Gray polo shirts (no name on shirt) and long white lab coat, (length of lab coat is midway between hips and knees). Students can purchase locally upon arrival in Stillwater.
- Housing
For information on housing, use the following resources:
- View the Housing Guide for off-campus housing
- On-campus housing
- Google “Stillwater Oklahoma housing”
- Pave Program Certificate
A certificate from OSU and a grade report will be awarded to each PAVE student upon successful completion of the program.