ACVS certifies 60 new members

Bethesda, Md.­Sixty veterinarians successfully completed the rigorous board certification examination of the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) given Feb. 6-8 in San Diego.

The three-day examination consists of oral, written and practical portionsand can only be taken after a veterinarian completes four years of trainingbeyond veterinary school. This additional training includes a one-year rotatinginternship and a three-year surgical residency program. During the closelysupervised residency program, the resident works with recognized board-certifiedspecialists to acquire additional knowledge and skill in veterinary surgery. The resident also must demonstrate a commitment to contributing to scientificliterature and maintaining a moral and ethical standing in the veterinaryprofession.

Board certification by the ACVS has been attained by less than 2 percentof the 57,000 practicing veterinarians in the United States. There is nowa total of 1,037 ACVS board certified veterinary surgeons.