Western University vet students shine on test

Western University of Health Sciences' fourth-year veterinary medicine students topped the national average score for people taking their discipline's national licensure test this year.

The university announced recently the students, enrolled in the university's College of Veterinary Medicine, scored a college record and had the highest national average score among those taking the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination for the first time.

The group included individuals representing the United States' 28 veterinary medicine programs.

Western University's College of Veterinary Medicine class of 2011 will graduate in May. The students recently received the results of the examination and scored a 96 percent, the university statement said.

The national average is 95 percent, the statement said.

Last year's average for the college was 91 percent.

"This is great validation of all the efforts and hard work established by (the College of Veterinary Medicine) and Western U," said Dr. Teresa Morishita in the university's statement.

Morishita, a doctor of veterinary medicine, is associate dean for academic affairs in the College of Veterinary Medicine and professor of poultry medicine and food safety.

"Within five short years, we're already achieving similar standards as other long-established veterinary schools," she said.

The college graduated its first class of veterinarians in 2007.

The North American Veterinary Licensing Examination is a requirement for licensure to practice veterinary medicine in all licensing jurisdictions in North America, the statement said.

Each senior veterinary medical student first must pass the national examination in order to be a licensed practicing veterinarian, the statement said. After passing the national exam students take a state exam in the state they wish to become licensed, Morishita said in the statement.