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EnglishWhat is the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS)?
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ACVS is the agency through which veterinarians are certified as specialists in surgery. Its stated mission is to advance the art and science of surgery and promote excellence in animal health care through research, education, and service to the public. In practice, that makes acvs.org a starting point both for animal owners looking for a board-certified surgeon and for veterinarians exploring specialty certification, membership, or continuing education.
What ACVS does
The College describes its core role simply: ACVS defines the standards of veterinary surgery excellence. Three functions follow from that:
- Certification. ACVS is the body that certifies veterinarians as surgical specialists, which is why its name appears alongside the "board-certified surgeon" credential.
- Public education. The site maintains a library of animal health topics covering more than 100 large animal and small animal subjects, written for owners rather than specialists.
- Professional development. Members and residents get access to well-being resources, webinars, and conference content, and the ACVS Foundation funds educational and research opportunities.
Who the site serves
| If you are… | The most useful part of acvs.org |
|---|---|
| An animal owner facing a surgery decision | "Find a Veterinary Surgeon Near You" and the Animal Health Topics library |
| A veterinarian considering specialty certification | Membership benefits and the standards ACVS sets for surgery |
| A resident or supervisor | Residents' and Supervisors' Well-Being Resources |
| A surgeon seeking continuing education | The ACVS Webinar Series and Surgery Summit recordings |
Finding a surgeon or a topic
Two entry points do most of the work for the public. Find a Veterinary Surgeon Near You is the lookup for locating a certified specialist, and Explore Animal Health Topics splits into All Animals, Large Animals, and Small Animals so you can go straight to the relevant library. If you are researching a specific procedure before an appointment, start with the topic library and then use the surgeon finder to identify a specialist in your area.
Staying current
The site's news section carries College announcements—recent items include the 2026–2027 Board of Regents, award recipients, and calls for papers and proposals for Veterinary Surgery. For learning, the 2026 ACVS Webinar Series covers topics ranging from case complications to imposter syndrome, with a published schedule and registration packages, and 2026 Surgery Summit recordings are available on demand for purchase.
What to keep in mind
ACVS is a certifying and professional body, not a clinic, so it will not diagnose or treat your animal—its value is in verifying credentials, explaining conditions, and pointing you to a specialist. Membership benefits, webinar registration, and on-demand purchases sit behind their own pages; check those pages for current terms rather than assuming access.