ACVD Veterinary Dermatology study guide
ACVD Veterinary Dermatology · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ACVD certification is the credential conferred by the American College of Veterinary Dermatology, an AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization, on veterinarians who pass its examination and are thereby recognized as Diplomates in veterinary dermatology. It is intended for veterinarians who have completed specialty training in dermatology - the college lists ACVD-approved residency programs of three years - and who wish to practice as board certified dermatologists in private specialty practice, academia, or industry. The college reports more than 400 board certified veterinary dermatologists worldwide. The examination is designed to test whether a candidate can practice dermatology at specialist level, and the college notes that it undergoes comprehensive evaluation by the American Board of Veterinary Specialists, a committee of the AVMA, every three years to ensure the required standards are maintained for the certification process. Topics on this exam: Veterinary Dermatology (specific content domains not enumerated in source) and General/Unspecified (weights not stated in source; split evenly pending review). The ACVD Veterinary Dermatology study guide has 2 sections and about 638 words.
01Veterinary Dermatology: Core Concepts and Clinical Reasoning
Veterinary dermatology rewards a disciplined, problem-based method. The candidate must be fluent in the major categories of skin disease: allergic (atopic dermatitis, food hypersensitivity, flea allergy, contact), infectious (bacterial pyoderma, dermatophytosis, Malassezia), parasitic (Demodex, Sarcoptes, Cheyletiella, fleas, ticks), immune-mediated (pemphigus, lupus, erythema multiforme), endocrine/metabolic (hypothyroidism, hyperadrenocorticism, sex-hormone disorders), neoplastic (mast cell tumor, lymphoma, squamous cell carcinoma), and keratinization/idiopathic conditions.
314 words, about 2 min02General Principles: Diagnostics, Therapeutics, and Exam Strategy
Even where specific content domains are unspecified, the exam expects sound general dermatology reasoning. Master cytology interpretation (neutrophils with intracellular cocci suggest pyoderma; budding yeast suggests Malassezia), antimicrobial stewardship (culture and susceptibility for recurrent or deep infections; topical therapy as adjunct), and topical formulation science (shampoos, sprays, spot-ons, and their contact times and frequency).
324 words, about 2 min