American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) Certification Examination

The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) Certification Examination assesses whether a veterinarian has the knowledge and clinical judgment required for certification in veterinary surgery. It is intended for candidates pursuing ACVS board certification in small animal or large animal surgery, not for general veterinary licensure. Candidates typically complete an ACVS-approved residency and meet the College’s credentialing requirements before taking the examination. Eligibility steps, application requirements, and examination arrangements can change, so candidates should use the current ACVS certification materials for the applicable cycle.

Preparation calls for broad review as well as specialty-specific clinical reasoning. Key areas include veterinary surgical anatomy and operative approaches; perioperative assessment and anesthetic management; asepsis, instrumentation, and minimally invasive techniques; and wound healing, reconstruction, and infection control. Large animal candidates should focus their review on the relevant large animal surgical scope, while small animal candidates should align study with their own specialty requirements. Use the current ACVS candidate guidance to confirm examination structure and content, then build a study plan around weak areas, case-based decisions, and careful review of explanations.