AVE Clinical Exam: Complete Guide to the 9 Sections Over 5 Days

AVE Clinical Exam: Complete Guide to the 9 Sections Over 5 Days

The Final (Clinical) Examination is the second and final stage of the Australasian Veterinary Examination (AVE). It is conducted in English over 5 days, usually at the University of Queensland Gatton campus, and consists of 9 sections covering the breadth of clinical veterinary practice in Australasia. AVBC normally holds the Clinical Examination twice per year — mid-year and end of year — with additional sessions occasionally offered at the AVE Committee's discretion.

This guide walks through what each section tests, how long it takes, what to bring, how it is graded, and how to prepare. All facts in this guide are sourced from the AVBC Information for AVE Candidates booklet (July 2025) — the canonical reference. Verify against the current AVBC publication before you sit the exam, since AVBC updates this booklet periodically.

For the broader pathway context, see the AVE 2026 Complete Guide for International Veterinarians.

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When can I sit the Clinical Examination?

You can only sit the Clinical Examination after passing the Preliminary (MCQ) Examination. Additional rules apply:

• Your English language test result must be valid (within 3 years) at the time you sit the Clinical Exam.
• You must attempt the Clinical Examination within 3 years of passing the MCQ.
• You must complete the entire AVE within 5 years of passing the MCQ.

If you miss either deadline you will need to re-sit the MCQ before re-attempting the Clinical Examination.

Where is the Clinical Examination held?

AVBC holds the Clinical Examination at an Australasian veterinary school — usually the University of Queensland Gatton campus (Gatton, Queensland). It is the candidate's responsibility to arrange and pay for travel, accommodation and visas for the 5 days of testing.

AVBC strongly advises candidates to consult their medical practitioner about Q-fever vaccination before sitting the Clinical Exam. Q-fever is endemic in Australian livestock and the practical sections involve direct contact with sheep, cattle, horses and other production animals. Candidates who choose not to vaccinate (and have not been previously exposed) should wear face mask and gloves during all practical examinations.

What to bring

• Photo identification (passport, driver's licence or similar)
• Clean protective clothing (overalls/coveralls) and gumboots for animal-handling sections (gumboots can be provided)
• Stethoscope
• Thermometer
• Closed shoes for the Practical Anaesthesia and Surgery sections (surgery scrubs are provided, but you can bring your own)
• Short-cut clean fingernails
• A pen for the Pathology Practical Examination

The 9 sections

The Clinical Examination consists of 3 oral (viva voce) examinations and 6 practical examinations, in a sequence determined by AVBC. Each section takes between 30 minutes and ~100 minutes depending on the section. There are usually two examiners present for each section, and an AVBC observer may also be present.

Oral examinations (viva voce)

The format is the same across the three orals: each candidate is presented with 4 clinical scenarios to work through verbally. A 4-component rubric (described in section 5.3.1 of the AVBC booklet) is used to score performance: (a) initial response to the scenario, (b) abnormalities and problem list, (c) investigation and management plan, and (d) overall logical and safe approach.

1. Small Animal Practice (oral, 45 min)

Tests common clinical presentations in dogs, cats, caged birds and other pets. Disciplines examined include internal medicine, surgery, diagnostic imaging, clinical pathology, anaesthesia/sedation/analgesia, reproduction, emergency medicine, behaviour, dentistry and dermatology.

Competencies assessed include obtaining clinical histories, interpreting physical-exam findings, triage, fluid therapy, prophylaxis (vaccination, anthelmintic, ectoparasite), differential-diagnosis lists, anaesthetic protocols, antimicrobial stewardship, and recognising when referral or euthanasia is appropriate.

2. Production Animal Practice (oral, 45 min)

Covers individual and herd/flock medicine, surgery, reproduction and obstetrics in cattle, small ruminants, pigs and poultry. Each candidate gets 4 scenarios — at least one involves pigs and/or poultry, one involves intensive animal production, and one involves extensive production.

Scenario settings include individual-animal medical/surgical/obstetric problems, herd-flock-pen-unit infectious-disease problems, and herd-flock-pen-unit production problems. Topics include ill-thrift, sudden death, reproductive failure, common endemic and notifiable disease outbreaks, biosecurity, sub-optimal welfare, dystocia management, and rational use of veterinary drugs.

3. Preventive Medicine (oral, 45 min)

Tests decision-making for disease control and prevention. Scenarios include exotic and endemic diseases of industry/government interest, suspected emergency disease situations, disease-outbreak investigation, prescribing principles for pharmaceutical use, and topical animal-welfare issues.

Specific exotic diseases candidates should be prepared for: Foot and Mouth Disease, African Horse Sickness, Swine Fever, Newcastle Disease, Avian Influenza, Equine Influenza, Rabies, African Swine Fever, Tuberculosis, Bluetongue, BSE. Endemic diseases to know: Anthrax, Johne's Disease, Sheep Footrot, Strangles, Hendra virus, Leptospirosis. AVBC also expects candidates to demonstrate proficiency with the National Livestock Identification System (NLIS), the Five Freedoms of animal welfare, and the 3Rs (replacement/reduction/refinement) framework.

Practical examinations

4. Equine Practice (practical, 55 min)

Includes both an oral and a practical component. Candidates are presented with 2–4 clinical scenarios — they describe abnormalities, outline investigation, provide differential diagnoses and management plans, AND perform relevant practical tasks. Case settings primarily focus on individual-animal emergency and non-emergency problems including wounds, gastrointestinal abnormalities including colic, lameness, respiratory abnormalities and common foal problems.

Practical tasks include catching and restraining a horse with halter or bridle, performing a thorough clinical examination (TPR, lung and abdomen auscultation), examining mouth/teeth with a mouth gag, examining eyes with/without an ophthalmoscope, indicating sites for IM injection, blood sampling, picking up and examining hooves, using hoof testers, identifying joint locations, palpating distal-limb soft tissues, positioning for radiographic examination, identifying nerve-block sites, and recommending sedation/anaesthesia protocols.

5. Cattle and Sheep Clinical Skills (practical, 55 min: 35 cattle + 20 sheep)

The cattle component (35 min) assesses competency in: per-rectum pregnancy testing of 3 cows (non-pregnant, <4 months, >4 months), haltering, oral cavity examination, stomach tube passing, jugular IV injection, tail-vein blood sampling, and epidural anaesthesia. Examiners may also include aseptic milk sampling, leg restraint, urine catheterisation, rumenocentesis, or thorough foot examination.

The sheep component (20 min) assesses: distance examination of a pen of sheep, catching and restraining for clinical examination, taking rectal temperature, jugular blood sampling, mouth and teeth examination, foot examination with searcher knife for footrot, faecal sampling, and ram scrotal examination.

6. Practical (Small Animal) Anaesthesia (practical, 75 min)

15 minutes is allowed for calculating drug doses. The remaining 60 minutes is for administering anaesthesia and setting up the patient. Candidates anaesthetise a healthy dog (no surgery is performed; the dog is recovered at the end). One examiner, one assisting nurse/technician and usually one observer are present.

Steps assessed: pre-anaesthesia physical exam, drug selection and dose calculation for premedication / induction / maintenance / analgesia, fluid-rate calculation, anaesthetic-machine and equipment preparation, IV catheter placement, endotracheal intubation, connection to the anaesthetic machine, monitoring (pulse oximetry, capnography, blood pressure), recognition of acceptable physiological ranges, and management of common complications. Patient safety is the overarching judgement criterion.

7. Practical (Small Animal) Surgery (practical, 90 min + 15 min prep + 10 min discharge note)

Candidates perform an ovariohysterectomy or cystotomy on an anaesthetised patient. 15 minutes for scrubbing/gowning/gloving, 90 minutes for the procedure, 10 minutes to write a discharge note for the owner. One examiner, one assisting nurse/technician and usually one observer are present.

Assessment includes patient preparation and aseptic preparation, sterile field establishment, knowledge of relevant surgical anatomy, correct instrument use and naming, surgical approach, tissue handling, haemostasis, lavage, tissue approximation/suture selection/knot security, bladder-seal testing (if cystotomy), time management, anticipation of intraoperative complications, post-operative supportive care planning, and discharge instructions. Patient safety again drives the examiner's judgement.

8. Pathology Practical Examination (practical, ~100 min)

10 questions presented in PowerPoint format with mostly gross specimens, occasional photomicrographs, and accompanying history/data. 10 minutes per question for hand-written answers (paper provided; bring a pen).

Each question is assessed across four sub-sections: (1) recognition and description of abnormality, (2) interpretation including morphological and aetiological diagnoses + pathogenesis, (3) action for confirmation of diagnosis, (4) advice for management. Partial credit is available for incorrect initial diagnoses if subsequent reasoning is sound.

9. Handling and Physical Examination of the Cat and Dog (practical, 30 min)

Assesses basic handling and physical examination of cats and dogs. Mandatory components (every candidate): safely approaching an unknown dog, performing basic clinical examination on a dog, removing a cat from its cage, and safely lifting the cat onto the examination table. Optional examiner-discretion components: lifting a dog onto the table, demeanour/appearance assessment of the cat, rectal temperature technique, injection-site demonstration, and cephalic/jugular vein restraint demonstration.

How is the Clinical Examination graded?

There are no marks. Each of the 9 sections is graded as either:

• Met the required standard of competency, or
• Did not meet the required standard of competency.

To pass the Final (Clinical) Examination overall, you must achieve 'Met the required standard of competency' in ALL 9 sections. If you fail any section, supplementary examination of that section is offered during a supplementary assessment period.

All oral examinations are recorded; recordings are available for review by Examiners and the Chief Examiner.

Re-sitting the Clinical Examination

There are two re-sit pathways and both have limits:

1. Supplementary examinations of failed sections. You are allowed 2 supplementary attempts at any failed section. If you fail supplementary assessment twice, you must re-sit the entire Final (Clinical) Examination.

2. Re-sitting the entire Clinical Examination. You are allowed 3 attempts at the entire Final (Clinical) Examination. The 3rd attempt requires AVE Committee approval.

Other rules:

• Re-sits must be completed within the 5-year window from your MCQ pass (otherwise you must restart the entire AVE).
• Re-sits must be within the validity window of your English-language test (3 years).
• Before any re-sit, the AVE Committee will require you to discuss your preparation with a Committee member, develop a written training plan, and submit a case log of additional clinical training at least one month before the re-sit examination.

How to prepare

The AVBC booklet (section 5.5) is direct on this point: hands-on clinical experience is the most effective preparation. Reading material, videos and other electronic resources are described as "far less effective." Practical recommendations:

• Use the Clinical Skills Checklist in Appendix 4 of the AVBC booklet to identify gaps. You'll need to submit this checklist with your enrolment form, declaring that you have sufficient experience to perform at a pass level.
• After passing the MCQ, you can apply for a form of 'limited', 'specific' or 'conditional' registration with a state/territory veterinary registration board. This allows you to work under supervision in an Australian veterinary practice while you prepare for the Clinical Examination.
• Join veterinary practices for hands-on instructional experience — AVBC is explicit that you must arrange this yourself; AVBC does not assist.
• Practise the practical procedures listed in Appendix 4 repeatedly: per-rectum pregnancy testing, stomach tube passing, epidural anaesthesia, sheep foot examination, equine hoof testing, ovariohysterectomy, IV catheter placement and so on.
• Practise verbalising clinical reasoning out loud — the oral exams require you to think aloud under time pressure, which is a different skill from writing it down.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where exactly is the Clinical Examination held?

At an Australasian veterinary school — usually the University of Queensland Gatton campus.

How often is the Clinical Exam held?

Usually twice per year (mid-year and end of year), with additional sessions occasionally offered at the AVE Committee's discretion.

How many sections are there?

9 — comprised of 3 oral (viva voce) examinations and 6 practical examinations.

What is the pass mark?

There are no numerical marks. Each section is graded "Met the required standard of competency" or "Did not meet". You must pass ALL 9 sections to pass the Clinical Examination overall.

What happens if I fail a section?

Supplementary examination is offered for failed sections during a supplementary assessment period. You get 2 supplementary attempts per section. If you fail supplementary twice, you must re-sit the entire Clinical Examination.

How many times can I re-sit the entire Clinical Examination?

Up to 3 attempts. The 3rd attempt requires AVE Committee approval.

How long do I have to complete the AVE after passing the MCQ?

You must attempt the Clinical Exam within 3 years of passing the MCQ, and complete the entire AVE within 5 years.

Will I get individual feedback?

Yes — for any failed section, the Chief Examiner provides detailed feedback to support re-sit preparation.

What clinical experience do I need before sitting?

The AVBC Clinical Skills Checklist (Appendix 4 of the booklet) lists the minimum hands-on procedures every candidate is expected to be able to perform. You must submit this checklist with your enrolment form. Joining an Australian veterinary practice under limited/specific/conditional registration after passing the MCQ is the most direct way to gain this experience.

Sources

• AVBC Information for AVE Candidates booklet (July 2025) — sections 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.5, 5.6 — the canonical reference for everything in this guide. Available from avbc.asn.au.
• AVBC Day One Competencies (Version 1, January 2024) — the standard against which Clinical Exam performance is benchmarked.
• APAV (Accreditation Program for Australian Veterinarians) training materials — recommended for the Preventive Medicine oral.

Last reviewed: April 2026. Verify current sections and procedures against the AVBC website before sitting.