American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO): How to Become Board-Certified
The American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) certifies veterinary ophthalmologists through its credentialing arm, the American Board of Veterinary Ophthalmology (ABVO) — and AVMA lists no separately named specialties under the organization, so one credential covers the field.
The path runs through a minimum of 48 months of veterinary experience — a total the 3-year or longer residency counts toward, with at least 12 months before it — then the ABVO certifying examination.
AVMA counts 696 active ACVO diplomates as of December 31, 2025.
Active diplomates (AVMA)
696
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
ACVO at a glance
American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists (ACVO) is on AVMA’s list of AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organizations.
Diplomate title: Diplomates use the certification DACVO, or "Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists."
The ACVO credentialing path, from the college’s own documents
Before training
Candidates need a minimum of 48 months of veterinary experience, including at least 12 months before starting residency.
The college’s wording
“Have attained the minimum required veterinary experience (currently 48 months; 12 months of which must be prior to residency training).”
Title Use & Definitions — ABVOTraining program
Ophthalmology residency training must run 3 years or longer, under the supervision of at least one DACVO.
The college’s wording
“complete a 3-year or longer residency training program in veterinary ophthalmology under the supervision of at least one DACVO.”
Title Use & Definitions — ABVOTraining program
Residency must be complete, or scheduled to complete, by August 1 of the year the exam is taken.
The college’s wording
“Have completed or be scheduled to complete an ABVO-approved residency training program by August 1st of the year in which the examination is to be taken.”
Title Use & Definitions — ABVOCredentials and publications
Candidates must be of satisfactory ethical standing.
Credentials and publications
Candidates must submit all required documentation and fees by the credentialing deadline.
The college’s wording
“Have completed and submitted by the deadline all documentation and fees required as part of the credentialing process.”
Title Use & Definitions — ABVOCertifying exam
The ABVO certifying exam is a multi-day process with multiple written and practical components.
The college’s wording
“The exam is a multi-day process consisting of multiple written and practical components.”
Certification — ACVO PublicKeeping the credential
Diplomates board-certified in 2015 or later must maintain certification through the MOC program.
The college’s wording
“Maintain Certification through the MOC program (Diplomates boarded 2015 or later).”
Title Use & Definitions — ABVOEach point is summarised from ACVO’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.
One specialty, one credential: what a DACVO is
ACVO certifies veterinarians in veterinary ophthalmology.
AVMA's list names no separate specialties under the organization — one college, one credential — so the diplomate count covers the whole boarded field: AVMA counted 696 active ACVO diplomates as of December 31, 2025.
A veterinarian who meets the college's requirements is recognized as a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists and may use the certification 'DACVO' or 'Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.' The certification itself runs through ABVO, the American Board of Veterinary Ophthalmology — ACVO established its certifying criteria through ABVO.
48 months of experience — a total the residency counts toward
ACVO's stated entry requirement is a minimum of 48 months of veterinary experience — a single total that the residency itself counts toward.
Only 12 of those months must be accrued before residency training starts.
The college's own narrative reads as a single timeline: a minimum of 12 months of full-time clinical practice as a veterinarian, then the residency itself counting toward the 48-month total.
The residency is a 3-year or longer residency training program in veterinary ophthalmology, under the supervision of at least one DACVO, in a program ABVO approves.
Timing is tied to the exam calendar: the ABVO-approved residency must be completed, or scheduled to complete, by August 1 of the year the certifying examination is taken.
Credentials, fees, then a multi-day exam
Before the examination comes the credentialing: a candidate must be of satisfactory ethical standing, and must complete and submit all required documentation and fees by the credentialing deadline.
The certifying examination itself is the ABVO certifying exam, described as a multi-day process consisting of multiple written and practical components.
And for diplomates board-certified in 2015 or later, certification is not one-and-done: the requirement is to maintain certification through the MOC program.
Pay for ACVO diplomates
Frequently Asked Questions
How long is an ACVO residency?
Three years or longer: the requirement is completion of a 3-year or longer residency training program in veterinary ophthalmology, under the supervision of at least one DACVO, in a program ABVO approves.
The timing also anchors to the exam calendar — the residency must be completed, or scheduled to complete, by August 1 of the year the certifying examination is taken.
The residency also sits inside a wider requirement: a minimum of 48 months of veterinary experience, of which at least 12 months — described as full-time clinical practice — must come before residency training, with the residency counting toward the total.
How much veterinary experience does ACVO require?
A minimum of 48 months of veterinary experience — a single total that the residency counts toward, not extra time owed beyond it.
At least 12 of those months must be accrued before residency training begins: the college's narrative describes them as a minimum of 12 months of full-time clinical practice as a veterinarian before the residency starts.
The college states the 48-month figure as the current minimum, so confirm the requirement with ABVO when you map out your timeline.
What is the ACVO certifying exam like?
The ABVO certifying exam is a multi-day process consisting of multiple written and practical components.
It comes after the credentialing requirements are cleared: all required documentation and fees submitted by the deadline, satisfactory ethical standing, and a residency that is complete or scheduled to complete by August 1 of the exam year.
The credential that follows is the DACVO — Diplomate, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists.
Does ACVO certification expire?
Diplomates board-certified in 2015 or later must maintain certification through the MOC program.
Because the requirement is stated by certifying year, a veterinarian certified in or after 2015 should treat the MOC program as part of holding the credential rather than as settled at the exam.
Confirm the details that apply to your own certification year with the college before you rely on the timing.
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)
- ACVO — Certification (retrieved 2026-09-23)
- ABVO — Title Use & Definitions (retrieved 2026-09-23)
Organization list: AVMA ABVS; diplomate counts: AVMA; both retrieved 2026-09-23. Page last updated 2026-09-23.