American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (ACVAA): How to Become Board-Certified
The American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (ACVAA) certifies veterinarians as specialists in anesthesia and analgesia: the clinicians who plan and manage anesthetic care and peri-procedural pain across companion, zoo, wild, and food and fiber species.
The path runs from a DVM/VMD or foreign equivalent through a 12-month general internship or equivalent training, a 3-year ACVAA residency, and the college's certifying examination.
AVMA counts 476 active ACVAA diplomates as of December 31, 2025.
Active diplomates (AVMA)
476
AVMA-recognized specialties
One
Recognition
Recognized
Diplomate count: AVMA, “Veterinary specialists in the U.S.,” active board-certified diplomates as of December 31, 2025. Some veterinarians belong to more than one specialty.
Confirm every requirement with the college
ACVAA at a glance
American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (ACVAA) is on AVMA’s list of AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organizations.
Diplomate title: Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (DACVAA)
The ACVAA credentialing path, from the college’s own documents
Before training
To become an ACVAA Diplomate, an individual must hold a DVM/VMD (or foreign equivalent) degree and complete a 12-month general internship or equivalent training before residency.
The college’s wording
“In order to become an ACVAA diplomate, an individual must possess a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM/VMD or foreign equivalent) degree, have completed a 12 month general internship or equivalent training, completed training in an approved ACVAA residency program in the field of anesthesia and analgesia, and have passed the ACVAA certifying examination.”
Residency Information - American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and AnalgesiaTraining program
The ACVAA residency program consists of 3 years of intensive training in anesthesia and analgesia under the direct supervision of ACVAA Diplomates.
The college’s wording
“The ACVAA residency program consists of 3 years of intensive training in anesthesia and analgesia under the direct supervision of diplomates of the ACVAA.”
Residency Information - American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and AnalgesiaTraining program
Residents must complete at least 104 weeks of residency training in an approved residency program.
The college’s wording
“Completion of ≥104 weeks of residency training in an approved residency program.”
Credentials and publications
Credentialing requires a completed case and activities log and an anesthesia-related manuscript accepted for publication in an approved journal.
The college’s wording
“The candidate must have their credential packet accepted by the Credentials Committee, including a completed case and activities log, an anesthesia-related manuscript accepted for publication in an approved journal, and must obtain a passing score on the ACVAA exam.”
Application, deadlines and fees
New ACVAA residents must pay a one-time registration fee of $300 at the beginning of their residency.
The college’s wording
“d to pay a one-time registration fee of $300 at the beginning of their residency.”
Certifying exam
The ACVAA board certification examination is a three-day examination covering anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, anesthesia equipment, and species-specific management.
The college’s wording
“This three day examination is a rigorous test in all aspects of veterinary anesthesia and analgesia, including anatomy, physiology, pharmacology of anesthetic drugs, anesthesia equipment, and specific management of veterinary species, including wild, zoo, companion, and food and fiber animal species.”
Residency Information - American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and AnalgesiaCertifying exam
The ACVAA exam fee is $1500, the same amount for the initial application and any repeat exam attempts.
The college’s wording
“st of the exam? The exam fee is $1500. This is the same for the initial application and any repeat exam attempts.”
Each point is summarised from ACVAA’s own published pages and candidate documents, as retrieved on the dates listed under Sources. Open “the college’s wording” for the exact text and its source.
What a DACVAA is, and the size of the field
A Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia (DACVAA) is a board-certified specialist in anesthesia and analgesia.
The college describes the role as reaching beyond prescribing anesthetic drugs: before anesthesia, a diplomate evaluates the animal's physical condition and any disease that may complicate its response, may guide treatment to stabilize the patient, manages all aspects of peri-procedural pain, and monitors, diagnoses and treats anesthetic-related complications.
Many diplomates also make recommendations for chronic pain, and they consult for veterinarians who are not experts in anesthesia.
AVMA lists no separately named specialties under the organization — one college, one credential — and counted 476 active diplomates as of December 31, 2025.
A 12-month internship, then a 3-year residency
ACVAA's stated prerequisites are a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree — DVM/VMD or foreign equivalent — and a 12-month general internship or equivalent training before the residency.
The residency then consists of 3 years of intensive training in anesthesia and analgesia under the direct supervision of ACVAA diplomates, in an approved residency program.
The 3 years is the program's length, and the 104-week figure the college also states is not a shorter version of it: at least 104 weeks of training in the approved program must be complete before a resident can submit credentials for the certifying exam, which the college expects near or at the completion of the 3 years.
Registration is a start-of-residency step, with a one-time $300 fee.
A credentials packet, then the certifying exam
Near or at the completion of the 3 years, a resident submits credentials for approval to sit for the ACVAA board certification examination.
The credential packet must be accepted by the Credentials Committee and includes a completed case and activities log plus an anesthesia-related manuscript accepted for publication in an approved journal; a passing score on the exam completes what the college lists for certification.
The examination is, in the college's words, a rigorous test in all aspects of veterinary anesthesia and analgesia: anatomy, physiology, pharmacology of anesthetic drugs, anesthesia equipment, and the specific management of veterinary species, including wild, zoo, companion, and food and fiber animal species.
The exam fee is $1500, the same for the initial application and any repeat exam attempts.
After passing, the veterinarian becomes a diplomate.
Pay for ACVAA diplomates
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is an ACVAA residency?
The college describes it as 3 years of intensive training in anesthesia and analgesia under the direct supervision of ACVAA diplomates, completed in an approved residency program.
It comes after a 12-month general internship or equivalent training.
The 104-week figure in the college's credentialing requirements is not a shorter residency: it is the training minimum that must be complete before credentials for the exam can be submitted, within the 3-year program.
The full path: veterinary degree, internship, residency, then the certifying examination.
What does the ACVAA certifying exam cover?
The college calls it a rigorous examination in all aspects of veterinary anesthesia and analgesia: anatomy, physiology, pharmacology of anesthetic drugs, anesthesia equipment, and specific management of veterinary species, including wild, zoo, companion, and food and fiber animal species.
The exam fee is $1500, the same for the initial application and any repeat exam attempts.
Passing the exam is the final step in the college's list of requirements, after the degree, the internship and the residency.
What goes into the ACVAA credentials packet?
The college's overview says a resident submits credentials near or at the completion of the 3 years, and the credential packet must be accepted by the Credentials Committee.
It includes a completed case and activities log and an anesthesia-related manuscript accepted for publication in an approved journal.
A passing score on the ACVAA exam completes the certification requirements the college lists.
How many ACVAA diplomates are there?
AVMA counted 476 active ACVAA diplomates as of December 31, 2025.
That figure covers the whole boarded field in veterinary anesthesia and analgesia: AVMA's list names no separate specialties under the organization, so there is one credential rather than a split by species or discipline.
AVMA's specialists report, linked in the sources below, is where the count is maintained.
More Specialty Resources
Sources
- AVMA — Veterinary specialties (AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organizations) (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- AVMA — Veterinary specialists in the U.S. (diplomates as of December 31, 2025) (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- ACVAA — Residency Information (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- ACVAA — Residency, Credentialing and Exam FAQs (retrieved 2026-09-23)
Organization list: AVMA ABVS; diplomate counts: AVMA; both retrieved 2026-09-23. Page last updated 2026-09-23.