This guide contains the list of books and journals recommended as study materials for the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) examination.
Source: ACVS Certification Examination Reading List
This resource updated: 05/21/2024
Textbooks updated to most recent edition: 11/9/2022
Source reading list reviewed: 05/21/2024
Source reading list updated by specialty board: 03/2024
"The following references and books are suggested reading in preparation for the 2022 ACVS Phase I Surgical Knowledge Examination. Other textbooks and current references may be pertinent."
Equine Surgery by 
Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia by 
Farm Animal Surgery by 
Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy in the Horse by 
Dyce, Sack, and Wensing's Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy by 
Cunningham's Textbook of Veterinary Physiology by Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia by 
Equine Anesthesia by 
Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics by "The following references and books are suggested reading in preparation for the 2022 ACVS 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 Surgery: Small Animal Expert Consult by 
Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology by Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia by Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics by 
AO Principles of Fracture Management in the Dog and Cat by 
Miller's Anatomy of the Dog by "The following references and books are suggested reading in addition to the current Phase I reading list, for preparation for the 2022 ACVS Phase II Surgical Competency Examination. Other textbooks and current references may be pertinent. Knowledge of basic and applied anatomy is assumed."
Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology by Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia by Small Animal Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics by AO Principles of Fracture Management in the Dog and Cat by Veterinary Surgery: Small Animal Expert Consult by Diagnostic and Surgical Arthroscopy in the Horse by Dyce, Sack, and Wensing's Textbook of Veterinary Anatomy by "Knowledge of basic and applied physiology is assumed and should be reviewed in an appropriate text," such as these two books:
Guyton and Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology by Cunningham's Textbook of Veterinary Physiology by 
.Many journals contain articles pertaining to surgery (both human and veterinary) and should be perused for current literature. A partial list of veterinary journals includes:
The majority of questions come from literature published in the last five years. For example, if you are taking the 2021 examination, questions will primarily come from literature published in the range of June 1, 2015–June 30, 2020. Questions may also come from older articles considered significant and essential to the knowledge of the veterinary surgeon.
This guide is maintained by staff and faculty of the Ohio State University Libraries and the Texas A&M University School of Veterinary Medicine & Biological Sciences. It is licensed under creative commons, non-commercial use, share-alike, adaptations allowed. Libraries are encouraged to link to this guide to access up-to-date content, or copy this guide to modify it for their own institutional needs.
