This guide contains the list of books and journals recommended as study materials for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) examination. You can find sample questions and tips for the examinations on the ACVS examination webpage.
Residents are responsible for ensuring they are using the correct edition of a book for their exam.
Please ask your librarian, mentor, or specialty board examination committee if questions arise.
Source: ACVS Certification Examination Reading List
Updated: 10/16/2024
The following references and books are suggested reading in preparation for the 2025 Phase I examination. Other textbooks and current references may be pertinent. Page numbers refer to print textbooks. Digital versions may have different page numbers."
Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia by 
Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics by 
AO Principles of Fracture Management in the Dog and Cat by 
Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology by 
Veterinary Surgery: Small Animal by
Knowledge of basic and applied anatomy is assumed and should be reviewed in an appropriate text, such as this:
Anatomy of the Dog by 
Advances in Equine Laparoscopy by 
Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy in the Horse by 
Equine Anesthesia: Monitoring and Emergency Therapy by 
Equine Fracture Repair by 
Equine Surgery by 
Equine Wound Management by 
Farm Animal Surgery by Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics by 
Textbook of Veterinary Physiology by
Knowledge of basic and applied anatomy is assumed and should be reviewed in an appropriate text, such as this:
Dyce, Sack, and Wensing's Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy by
"The following references and books are suggested reading in addition to the current Phase I reading list for preparation for the 2025 Phase II examination. Other textbooks and current references may be pertinent. A substantial understanding of basic and applied physiology and anatomy is assumed.
Unless otherwise indicated, all chapters apply."
AO Principles of Fracture Management in the Dog and Cat by 
Small Animal Surgery by Veterinary Surgery: Small Animal by
"Knowledge of basic and applied physiology, pharmacology, anesthesia, and basic applied anatomy is assumed and should be reviewed in an appropriate text; for example, from the Phase I reading list: "
Anatomy of the Dog by Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology by Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics by Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia by Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy in the Horse by Farm Animal Surgery by For the 2025 examination, article-based questions will primarily come from articles published in the range of June 1, 2019–May 31, 2024 (five years) and June 1, 2021–May 31, 2024 (three years). This date range is based on the publication of content in print rather than online publication date. Questions may also come from older publications considered landmark articles that are significant and essential to the knowledge of the veterinary surgeon.
A partial list of veterinary journals includes:
