Now Accepting 2026 Phase I Applications, through 9/15/25!

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Application Instructions

ACVP examination application requires two-steps, completed by the close of the application window: (1) submission of an application via the ACVP Application Portal and (2) payment of the examination fee on this site. Both steps must be completed by the deadline for the application to be considered by the Credentialing Committee. Links to the application portal and fee payment page will be added to this page at the opening of each application window (and removed when the window closes). See above.

Applicants will create an ACVP Application Portal account, which will allow them to save their applications during completion, before final submission. Application details include: applicant contact information, veterinary medicine education details (and copy of diploma for Phase I), veterinary pathology training details, candidate sponsor information (and form), and agreement with examination terms. Applicants should not create an account on the fee payment page and should disregard messaging about being a member or creating an account.

Tips for Successful Application Submission

• Enter your name exactly as it appears on your government-issued ID (required at time of examination administration).
• Use the same name on your application and for fee payment.
• If a name change occurred since the veterinary diploma was awarded, the candidate must upload a photocopy of legal documentation attesting to this change. 

• Double-check that all training dates are noted accurately and that the total months in training calculated in your application align with your experience. 
• Use only current Sponsor forms found on the ACVP website at the time of application. Use of older forms (kept on file at your institution) may slow the credentialing process. Double-check that the forms you plan to submit show all required boxes checked and signatures saved before uploading.
• For Phase I application: Provide a legible image of your English (or English-translated and notarized) veterinary diploma from an AVMA-accredited  or AVMA-listed international veterinary school. Please note: any document with translation needs notarization (with stamp and signature) or to be a certified translation (with a stamp and signature from the certified translation company).

Application Notes

• Applicants and sponsors will be notified of acceptance to sit for the examination, via email, no less than 120 days prior to the examination date. Specific dates noted on the Phase I and Phase II pages. If notification is not received by the published notification date, contact [email protected].
• If an applicant’s credentials are not accepted, or if a candidate’s request to withdraw from the examination is received by the withdrawal deadline, fees will be refunded (minus processing fee). No refunds will be made after the withdrawal deadline and no fees may be carried over to apply in subsequent years.
• The Phase II application fee will be automatically refunded for any candidates who apply to take the Phase I and Phase II examinations in the same calendar year and do not pass the Phase I examination.
• Withdrawal prior to the examination, or failure to appear for the examination, will not constitute an attempt to sit the examination. A candidate’s illness during preparation for, or during the actual examination, will not be considered a valid reason to waive the rules of the College. In the event a candidate starts, but is unable to complete the examination, results will be reported and will constitute an attempt to sit the examination.

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Phase I Applications – opening 8/1/25

2026 Phase I application window: August 1 – September 15, 2025
2026 Phase I examination: March 17 and 18

2027 Phase 1 application window: August 3 – September 14, 2026
2027 Phase 1 examination: March 16 and 17
For more information about deadlines, visit Phase I page. Review the 2026 Candidate Handbook.

Phase I candidate fee: $350
Required documents for Phase I application:

• Phase I Sponsor Form *Please be sure to use only the current form linked here and ensure the form has been saved with all required boxes checked.
• English (or English-translated and notarized) veterinary diploma from an AVMA-accredited  or AVMA-listed international veterinary school. Please note: any document with translation needs notarization (with stamp and signature) or to be a certified translation (with a stamp and signature from the certified translation company).

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Phase II Applications – opening 12/15/25

2026 Phase II applications window: December 15 – February 12
2026 Phase II examination: August 10, 11, and 12

2027 Phase II application window: December 14 – February 11 
2027 Phase II examination: August 9, 10, and 11
For more information about deadlines, visit the Phase II page. Review the 2025 Phase II Candidate Handbook.

Phase II candidate fee: $850
Required documents for Phase II application:

• Phase II Sponsor Form or Phase II Dual Certification Sponsor Form *Please be sure to use only the forms linked here and ensure the form saved with all required boxes checked.

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Criteria to Repeat Examinations

If a candidate fails the Phase I Examination, they are eligible to apply to repeat the examination the following year. There is no limit to the number of attempts or years a candidate may repeat the Phase I Examination.

After passing the Phase I Examination, candidates are allowed four attempts within 10 Phase II Examination cycles to pass the Phase II Examination. The 10 cycles include the Phase II Examination in the year that the candidate passed Phase I, regardless of eligibility to take Phase II that year. If a candidate has not passed the Phase II Examination after four attempts, or has exceeded their 10-cycle limit, they must apply for, retake, and pass the Phase I Examination prior to retaking the Phase II Examination. (Note: The Phase II Examination was not administered in 2020. Therefore, 2020 will not count toward the 10-cycle limit). The four attempts that a candidate is given to pass the Phase II Examination will be calculated as the sum of attempts that occur in Ames, Tampa, or remote locations.

See table below specifying the final year in which a candidate may attempt to pass the Phase II examination, according to the year they pass Phase I.

Phase II Eligibility Time Limits

Year Passed Phase I Examination	Final Year to Pass Phase II Examination
2016	2026
2017	2027
2018	2028
2019	2029
2020	2030
2021	2030*
2022	2031*
2023	2032*
2024	2033*
2025	2034*
2026	2036*

*No Phase II examination was offered in 2020.

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ADA Accommodations

ACVP complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act by providing reasonable accommodations. Requests for accommodations must be submitted by stated deadline for each Phase. If you have a special request that is not covered by the ADA, contact [email protected] as soon as possible.

Read more about Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) Accommodations and apply.

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