A person desiring to commence the practice of veterinary medicine, surgery and dentistry in this State shall deliver to the secretary of the board a fee to be determined by the board for filing the application for examination and a fee to be determined by the board for the examination, together with satisfactory proof that the applicant is a qualified veterinary graduate as defined in this act or who shall provide a certification acceptable to the board that the applicant will be awarded a degree in veterinary medicine at graduation during the academic year from the college or university the applicant attends and has passed a national licensing examination as required by the board. No applicant, however, shall be licensed prior to graduation from a veterinary college or university.
N.J.S. § 45:16-7