Frequently Asked Questions

Separating certification functions from membership activities, including continuing education, meets current governance best practices by avoiding potential conflicts of interest and litigation. It also gives ACVS greater flexibility to provide products, programs, services, and activities that address the changing needs and expectations of a diverse membership.

Over the years, ACVS has expanded its programming beyond just certification as the needs and expectations of Diplomates have evolved. The ACVS Board of Regents currently oversees membership, continuing education, and other programs, products, and services, as well as the process of certification, including resident training, examinations, and maintenance of certification. The needs and objectives of many program areas, especially those relating to membership and continuing education, have the potential to conflict with the interests of certification. 

An example of a potential conflict of interest is a real or perceived effort to lower certification standards with the purpose of increasing the number of individuals being certified and increasing the number of dues-paying members. Similarly, a real or perceived effort to raise certification standards with the purpose of decreasing the number of individuals being certified to reduce competition is considered a conflict of interest.

ACVS is not aware of any apparent conflicts that have occurred; however, ACVS must protect the value and reputation of the certification programs as the designation of “ACVS board–certified veterinary surgeon” is highly distinguished and respected. Current governance guidance for certifying organizations includes separating certification functions and membership activities. 

ABVS, or any other regulatory body, has not mandated the separation of certification and membership, however ABVS has been strongly encouraging independent oversight of certification.  

Yes. The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) and the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) have created independent governing bodies for their certification programs. In 2017, The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) approved a reorganization of the responsibilities of the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) and the creation of the Veterinary Specialty Organizations Committee to delineate recognition activities and membership activities. 

Facilitating the separation of certification functions from membership activities requires ACVS to establish a new independent governing body, the ACVS Certification Council, and grant it full autonomy regarding all certification-related decision–making and oversight. 

Consolidating all certification functions under an independent governing body separate from the Board of Regents (i.e., Certification Council) is an essential step to minimize conflicts of interest, both real and perceived, ensuring ACVS can continue to fulfill its mission and objectives. Creating a Certification Council will also allow ACVS to expand some aspects of its mission, modernize its governance structure, and avoid potential future litigation. 

The Certification Council is a proposed governing body within ACVS that would oversee all aspects of certification, including all committees related to board certification. Notably, the Certification Council would function autonomously from the ACVS Board of Regents as it relates to certification-related oversight and decision-making. 

Some veterinary specialty organizations have structured their certification programs as separate entities; some have not. ACVS evaluated the option to create a separate organization and, based on the size of ACVS in both membership and finances, determined that establishing the Certification Council as a separate organization would be impractical.

Establishing the Certification Council within ACVS, but as an independent governing body, creates the necessary separation between membership and certification while maintaining efficient operations and communication across the organization.

The Certification Council will be responsible for the development and evaluation of criteria for certification and credentials application requirements; the development, administration, and scoring of examinations; the development and evaluation of requirements for maintenance of certification, maintenance of certification, and audit policies; and the development and evaluation of fellowship training minimum standards and training and application requirements. Additionally, the Certification Council will be responsible for establishing policies and procedures for appeals, special accommodations, complaints and disciplinary actions, status verification, and other policies as needed to support the certification programs. 

ACVS expects the makeup of the Certification Council to be primarily ACVS Diplomates who meet defined eligibility requirements, which are currently being determined. Additionally, based on current governance standards, it is likely that an individual outside of veterinary medicine and surgery would serve as a member of the Certification Council to represent the interests of the public, generally referred to as a Public Member.

This, and many other details, are currently being determined. ACVS is evaluating processes in a thoughtful and purposeful manner that are consistent with the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA) standards and reviewing methods other organizations have implemented before a detailed plan is proposed to the Board of Regents. ACVS is committed to an open and transparent selection process that reflects the range of Diplomate backgrounds and identifies individuals with the necessary skillsets. 

Communication and coordination between the governing bodies of membership organizations (i.e., Board of Regents) and their certification divisions (i.e., Certification Council) is acceptable and encouraged. It is the decisions regarding certification by the certification division that must be independent and free from undue influence by the primary organization.

ACVS is currently evaluating the optimal oversight of residency training programs in this structure that maintains the proper independence of certification-related decision–making. Requirements for individuals completing the certification process will be governed by the Certification Council. 

By consolidating all certification activities under the Certification Council, the ACVS Board of Regents can focus more of their time and resources on strategically identifying programs, products, services, and activities that support board-certified veterinary surgeons and candidates throughout their careers, ensuring Diplomates receive greater value from being an ACVS member. Additionally, certification programs are better safeguarded against legal action when they align with current standards and best practices. 

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. 

Adhering to the highest recommended governance standards in certification processes will further assure animal owners, the public, and other stakeholders, including referring veterinarians, that ACVS Diplomates continue to meet rigorous standards. 

The certification process itself will not change based on the governance change. Oversight of the process and the decision that the 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. 

The proposed governance and operational changes would not change certification eligibility requirements. Future oversight of certification eligibility requirements will shift to the Certification Council and any potential future updates to certification eligibility requirements would be independent of this governance change. 

Similar to other aspects of the certification process, ACVS does not anticipate any changes to the examination process based on this governance change. However, the Certification Council would have future oversight of the examination process. Any potential future updates to the examination process would be independent of this governance change. 

Creating the Certification Council would have no effect on current maintenance of certification requirements; however, the Certification Council would have future oversight of maintenance of certification requirements. Any potential future updates to the requirements for maintenance of certification would be independent of this governance change. 

Yes. Any change to the structure and flow of authority of ACVS requires updates to the bylaws. While the exact scope of changes to the bylaws that would be necessary are not yet known, members will need to vote to accept any necessary amendments to the bylaws.

The ACVS Board of Regents will no longer be directly involved in certification-related decisions; however, appropriate communication between the ACVS Board of Regents and the Certification Council will be established. The ACVS Board of Regents retains all fiduciary responsibility for ACVS. 

ACVS is currently evaluating the composition of the ACVS Board of Regents. The responsibilities of the officers and regents may be realigned to best suit the evolving needs of ACVS. 

With the ACVS Board of Regents no longer spending substantial time on issues related to certification, more of its time would be devoted to identifying resources that support veterinary surgeons throughout their careers as well as other strategic priorities that support the mission of ACVS.  

The primary change will occur at the governance level. Certification-related committees will report to the Certification Council. ACVS will ensure independent decision–making is reflected in committee protocols. Significant changes to current member selection, composition, and functions of certification-related committees are unlikely in the immediate future because of this change in governance. 

All certification-related committees, including the Examination Committee, Resident Credentialing Committee, Maintenance of Certification Committee, and the Fellowship Committee, as well as working groups and task forces responsible for certification processes will be governed by the Certification Council. ACVS is currently evaluating the optimal oversight for the Residency Program Compliance Committee. 

Items currently under development by ACVS committees will continue to proceed. Oversight of certification-related items will be transitioned to the Certification Council. 

Along with the opportunity to serve on the Certification Council, Diplomates will continue to serve on certification-related committees and will continue to participate in periodic working groups to support strategic efforts related to certification. 

Understanding the scope and complexity of this process and ACVS’s commitment to open and transparent communication with members throughout the development process, ACVS anticipates the new governance and organizational structure to take effect for the 2027 calendar year. 

Creating the Certification Council is not expected to affect ACVS’s overall finances. Certification-related income and expenses are documented in the ACVS budget, and specific staff are already dedicated to certification duties. 

No. ACVS staff, including those who support certification functions, would continue to work through ACVS’s main office. 

ACVS does not anticipate an increase in examination fees related to the creation of the Certification Council. ACVS (and Diplomates) provides financial support to cover the cost of credentialing for candidates and is committed to minimizing candidate fees wherever possible. The creation of the Certification Council does not prevent ongoing financial support for the credentialing process from ACVS.