Important announcement regarding proposed ACVS governance change

Hello Veterinary Surgery Residents and Candidates,

ACVS sent an announcement last week to Diplomates that we want to share with you. A governance change within the College is being proposed to separate ACVS credentialing functions and membership activities. This change will strengthen ACVS’s ability to execute its core mission while also meeting the needs of Diplomates, residents, and other interested parties. Despite this separation, the College will remain a unified, cohesive organization.

We realize this change will result in many questions. Several answers are below. ACVS has also created a dedicated governance webpage that includes frequently asked questions (FAQ) to help interested parties understand this transition.

Why?

Since its inception, ACVS has expanded its programming beyond certification as the needs and expectations of Diplomates and residents have evolved. The objectives of many program areas, especially those relating to membership and continuing education, can conflict with certification interests. Separating certification functions from membership and continuing education activities would allow the organization to meet best practices for the governance of specialty organizations. This change would result in the avoidance of conflicts of interest and minimize the risk of litigation. Additionally, the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) is encouraging organizations to pursue this change based in part on the advice of legal counsel. Two specialty colleges (ACVIM and ACVO) have already separated their certification and membership activities.

The ACVS Board of Regents has been discussing this potential change for the past five years and devoted considerable time during the past 18 months to understanding the issues and potential impacts to the College. The board agrees that although ACVS is not aware of any conflicts having occurred, the College must proactively protect the value and reputation of the certification programs to ensure that the designation of “board-certified veterinary surgeon” remains highly distinguished and respected and fully separate from its membership role.

How?

To facilitate the separation of certification governance from membership, ACVS will establish a Certification Council within the College that will provide independent oversight of all certification-related activities. The Certification Council will govern all certification-related committees, including the Examination Committee, Resident Credentialing Committee, Maintenance of Certification Committee, and Fellowship Committee, as well as working groups and task forces responsible for certification processes.

How will this structure impact the certification process?

The certification process itself will not change based on the governance change. Oversight of the process and the decision that candidates have satisfied the requirements will shift to the Certification Council. Certification will still require completion of a residency and a successful performance on both the Phase I and Phase II examinations. Any potential future updates to the certification process would be independent of this governance change.

How will this change impact ACVS’s support of residents and candidates?

In this new structure, ACVS would be able to expand current educational programs, identify and develop new, highly desirable resources, and improve mentorship opportunities for residents and candidates, without real or perceived conflicts of interest.

When?

Updating ACVS’s governance structure is a multi-layered process and will take time to ensure a seamless transition. Changes to the structure of authority of ACVS will require updates to the bylaws. In the latter part of 2026, ACVS Diplomate members will need to vote to accept any necessary amendments to the bylaws before implementation. The goal is to establish the Certification Council for the 2027 calendar year.

Learn More

Review the frequently asked questions (FAQ) to understand this transition. ACVS realizes that additional questions will arise and will update the FAQ as more information becomes available. ACVS is committed to open and transparent communication with interested parties throughout this process.

Please send any questions or concerns regarding the proposed separation of certification and membership to Adam Seery, membership director, at aseery@acvs.org.

We are excited to begin this journey and share it with you!

Kimberly E. Soehnlein

Credentialing Programs Director

Eric J. Parente, DVM

Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Surgeons

Director of Certification

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