Certification
The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) is the AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization™ for certification of veterinarians in large animal surgery and small animal surgery. AVMA is the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Pathway to Certification
The American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) is the AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization™ for certification of veterinarians in large animal surgery and small animal surgery. AVMA is the American Veterinary Medical Association.
The official credential of a board-certificated veterinary surgeon is Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, often presented as DACVS.
Those interested in obtaining ACVS board certification are encouraged to check out the pathway to certification illustration below. It provides a high-level overview of the steps a veterinarian takes to become an ACVS board-certified veterinary surgeon. Additional details follow the illustration.
Pathway Details
- Graduate from an AVMA-accredited veterinary school; have an Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates certificate; or have a current veterinary license.
- Complete a one-year, rotating veterinary internship or equivalent
- Be accepted by an ACVS registered residency training program
- Complete training requirements (minimum three-year residency)
- Pass the Phase I Surgical Knowledge Examination
- Have an accepted manuscript
- Submit a credentials application
- Pass the Phase II Surgical Competency Examination
- Pursue Fellowship training (optional)
- Maintain your certification (five-year cycle) via Maintenance of certification
- Dual certification (optional)
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