Scope, Knowledge and Requirements for the ACVP Certifying Examinations in Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology

The examinations should be viewed as a culmination of three or more years of intensive training and preparation in veterinary anatomic or clinical pathology (see Training and Preparation for the Certifying Examinations.) The final phase of concentrated study will be successful only if the preceding training and experience has been suitably directed. Glaring and widespread deficiencies cannot be offset by last-minute study. The examination is intended to determine whether the candidate is highly competent in recognition and description of the morphologic changes associated with animal diseases of veterinary importance and with a firm understanding of the pathogenesis of these diseases.

Candidates in anatomic pathology must be well versed in necropsy and surgical pathology, descriptive and diagnostic aspects of basic pathogenic mechanisms (general pathology), and, to a lesser extent, clinical pathology. Candidates in clinical pathology must also be well versed in basic pathogenic mechanisms and scholarly aspects of clinical laboratory sciences. The best way to prepare for the examination is in a training program that is directed by a Diplomate(s) of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and that trains veterinary pathologists as one of its primary functions. The training program should include carefully supervised preceptorships in necropsy, surgical pathology and clinical pathology for the anatomic pathology candidate. Training for the clinical pathology candidate should include hematology, clinical biochemistry, cytology, and to a lesser extent, surgical pathology. In addition, such training programs should encourage trainees to expand their horizons and use of techniques in the study of disease problems.

The multiple-choice portions of the examinations test knowledge of the nature and pathogenesis of diseases that are reviewed in prominent texts, monographs, and articles from veterinary medical journals and relevant human medical journals. The candidate must become thoroughly familiar with these during training so that the review of important facts and concepts prior to the examination does not entail large amounts of new material. For the General Pathology section common to both examinations, texts on basic pathology (e.g., the general pathology sections of Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease by Kumar, Abbas and Fausto, and Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease by McGavin and Zachary) should have been studied, and reviews in journals such as Laboratory Investigation, New England Journal of Medicine, American Journal of Pathology, and Science must be perused regularly to provide familiarity with major advances and developing concepts. Candidates should have a solid understanding of the principles of molecular and toxicologic pathology. Commensurate with contemporary approaches to the study of disease, and the type of material with which modern veterinary anatomic and clinical pathologists are confronted, the examination has evolved to address concepts and techniques in these two important areas.

The same principles apply to preparation for the Veterinary Pathology section of the examination in Anatomic Pathology and for the multiple-choice portions of the Hematology, Clinical Biochemistry, and Cytology and Surgical Pathology (CSP) sections of the examination in Clinical Pathology. Final preparation should be directed primarily to areas in which the candidate's experience has been limited. Articles and reviews in journals such as Toxicologic Pathology and Veterinary Pathology must be perused regularly to provide familiarity with major advances and developing concepts. For a complete listing of recommended readings, see the reading list section of this website.

The above guidelines are equally appropriate to the Gross Pathology and Microscopic Pathology sections of the examination in Anatomic Pathology and to the glass slide and projected image portions of the Hematology and CSP sections of the examination in Clinical Pathology. The review of images of gross lesions and of hematologic or cytologic preparations from a variety of sources will provide the candidate with a broader spectrum of animal species and disease processes, different techniques of specimen preparation and layout, and variations in specimen presentation.

The microscopic portions of the examination (Microscopic Pathology section of the Anatomic Pathology examination and portions of the Hematology and CSP sections of the Clinical Pathology examination) are the most critical test of competence gained over a period of training or, conversely, for which last-minute study is least effective. Evaluation of histopathologic, cytologic, hematologic and ultrastructural lesions and formulation of good descriptive paragraphs and morphologic conclusions requires a lengthy and well critiqued preceptorship. Candidates who have not benefited from regular and detailed scrutiny of their descriptions and interpretations are usually not adequately prepared for these portions of the examination even though they might arrive at a fair number of correct diagnoses. Routine examination and discussion of slides, such as those provided by the AFIP weekly slide conference series, are helpful in broadening the exposure of anatomic pathology candidates beyond the spectrum of species and diseases encountered within their own institutions. Beyond that, final preparation for the microscopic portions need not be extensive and can be limited to review of specific diseases of species not often seen by the candidate during training.

The case evaluations in the Clinical Biochemistry section of the Clinical Pathology examination also test competence gained over a period of training. Candidates with limited experience in organizing clinical laboratory data and writing a logical interpretation usually do poorly on this section, even though they may correctly diagnose the case.

Electron microscopy, or other diagnostic techniques besides histology or cytology (e.g., immunohistochemistry or in-situ hybridization) are a limited part of the certifying examination. Candidates should be able to recognize and interpret basic changes in organelles, cells, or tissues. These skills can be enhanced by careful reading of pathology journals and texts. In the Clinical Pathology examination, these techniques are limited to hematologic, cytologic, and relevant biopsy specimens.

In conclusion, candidates who have mastered the basic abilities of recognition and interpretation of lesions that constitute the practice of anatomic or clinical pathology, and who have achieved thorough understanding of pathogenic mechanisms, are likely to be successful in the certifying examination. Although it is a rigorous test, we are confident the Examination sets an appropriate standard. It seeks to determine whether the candidate has comprehensive understanding of pathogenesis and the diagnostic proficiency to practice the specialty of veterinary pathology.

Revised January 2011.