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Veterinary Specialty Boards Reading Lists

American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) Reading List

This is only a convenience copy of the ACVS reading list to help find copies of reading materials in local libraries. It does not replace the official ACVS reading list. Candidates are responsible for ensuring they use the latest ACVS reading list.

ACVS

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: 10/15/2025

This is only a convenience copy of the ACVS reading list to help find copies of reading materials in local libraries. It does not replace the official ACVS reading list. Candidates are responsible for ensuring they use the latest ACVS reading list.

 

"The following references and books are suggested reading in preparation for the 2026 Phase I examination. Other textbooks and current references may be pertinent. Page numbers refer to print textbooks. Digital versions may have different page numbers."

Selected References for Small Animal Surgery

 

Knowledge of basic and applied anatomy is assumed and should be reviewed in an appropriate text, such as this:

Selected References for Large Animal Surgery

 

Knowledge of basic and applied anatomy is assumed and should be reviewed in an appropriate text, such as this:

Updated: 10/17/2025
This is only a convenience copy of the ACVS reading list to help find copies of reading materials in local libraries. It does not replace the official ACVS reading list. Candidates are responsible for ensuring they use the latest ACVS reading list.

 

"The following references and books are suggested reading in addition to the current Phase I reading list for preparation for the 2026 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."

Selected References For Small Animal Surgery

 

"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: "

Selected References for Large Animal Surgery

Journals for Small Animal Surgery

 

For the 2026 examination, article-based questions will primarily come from articles published in the range of June 1, 2020–May 31, 2025 (five years) and June 1, 2022–May 31, 2025 (three years). This date range includes publication of content in an issue except when indicated beside the specific journal listed below. Early view articles are not included for any journals.


A partial list of veterinary journals includes:

 

For the last five years:

 

For the last three years:

Journals for Large Animal Surgery

For the last five years:

For the last three years:

Updated: 11/14/2025