ACVP is now accepting applications to sit for the 2026 Phase II Certifying Examinations in Veterinary Anatomic and Clinical Pathology. Submit your Phase II application by February 12, 2026.

Read more about Phase II below and on the Phase II Information Page and watch that page for important updates.

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Application Instructions

Applicants sign into the ACVP Application Portal using their ACVP account credentials. Applicants who do not yet have an ACVP account will be directed to set up an ACVP account when first clicking on the Application Portal link. (Note: ACVP membership is always encouraged, of course, but not required for examination application.) It is important for applicants to remember that the name on their ACVP account and examination application must match their name as it appears on the government-issued ID they would use, if accepted, to be admitted to take the future examination. Please keep this in mind when setting up your account.

Application to sit for an ACVP examination requires two steps: (1) submission of a completed application, including uploading any required documentation, and (2) payment of the examination fee, via their ACVP account, through a link that appears upon submission of the application. Both steps must be completed by the deadline for the application to be considered by the Credentialing Committee.

Applications may be saved during completion, before final submission, however the final application must be submitted by the deadline in order to be considered. Application details include: applicant contact information (synced with the same information in the applicant’s ACVP account, veterinary medicine education details (and copy of diploma for Phase I only), veterinary pathology training details, candidate sponsor information (and form), and agreement with examination terms.

Upon submission of your application, a fee payment link will appear. After confirming your intention to pay the fee within the application portal (on a second page), you will be redirected to your ACVP account for payment. You will receive separate emailed confirmations for the application submission and fee payment.

The Credentialing Committee will review all submissions after the application window closes. Applicants will be notified of examination eligibility by the dates noted on the Phase I and Phase II pages, via an email from [email protected]. If you do not receive a determination by the date listed, please check your spam folders and be sure to mark [email protected] as a safe sender to ensure receipt of future examination communications.

Tips for Successful Application Submission

• Enter your name exactly as it appears on your government-issued ID (required at time of examination administration). That name must match the name used to establish your ACVP account and on your examination application.
• If a name change occurred since the veterinary diploma was awarded or since you took an earlier examination, upload a photocopy of legal documentation attesting to this change in the designated section for name change documentation in the application. 

• Double-check that all training dates are noted accurately so that they demonstrate completion of the required time in training. Errors in training dates may hold up the credentialing process.
• Use only current Sponsor forms found on the ACVP website at the time of application. Use of older forms (such as copies kept on file by your institution) may slow the credentialing process. Double-check that the form you plan to submit shows 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). A legible photo of your diploma is acceptable.

Application Notes

• Applicants and sponsors will be notified of acceptance to sit for the examination, via email from [email protected], no less than 120 days prior to the examination date. Specific notification dates noted on the Phase I and Phase II pages. If notification is not received by the published notification date, check your spam folders for a message from [email protected] and mark this address as a safe sender. If you are still unable to locate the anticipated message, 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 8/3/26 for 2027 examination

2026 Phase I application window: August 1 – September 15, 2025 — 2026 applicants have been notified of eligibility determinations. If you cannot locate the message, check your spam folders from a November 12 email from [email protected]. Be sure to mark [email protected] as a safe sender to ensure future successful examination communication.
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 – open through 2/12/26

2026 Phase II applications window: December 18 – 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 2026 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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