This guide contains the list of books and journals recommended as study materials for the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) examination.
Residents are responsible for ensuring they are using the correct edition of a book for their exam.
Please ask your librarian, mentor, or specialty board examination committee if questions arise.
Source: ACVP Anatomic Pathology and Clinical Pathology exam resources.
This resource updated: 2/28/2024
Source reading list reviewed:12/28/2016
Source reading list updated by specialty board: 2016
This reading list is provided as guidance for candidates. The sources are common journals and textbooks that represent the appropriate level of pathology knowledge. Candidates should feel free to utilize other equivalent sources and should seek mentor guidance if they are unclear about source equivalency. For journals, candidates should focus on reviews published within the last five years but note that only articles in print or electronically released by September 1st of the year preceding the examination are considered for that year’s examination (e.g. September 1, 2022 for the 2023 Phase I examination). For textbooks, candidates should utilize a recent version that is representative of current pathology knowledge.
Phase I (General Pathology) Resources
Robbins and Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease by 
Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease by 
Ultrastructural Pathology: The Comparative Cellular Basis of Disease (print) by 
Fundamentals of Toxicologic Pathology (print) by Anatomic Pathology Reading List (Phase II)
"This reading list is provided as guidance for candidates. The sources are common journals and textbooks that represent the appropriate level of pathology knowledge. Candidates should feel free to utilize other equivalent sources and they should seek mentor guidance if they are unclear about source equivalency. For journals, candidates should focus on articles published within the last five years but not that only articles in print or electronically released by January 1st of the exam year are considered for that year's exam. For textbooks, candidates should be utilizing a recent version that is representative of current pathology knowledge."
Jubb, Kennedy and Palmer's Pathology of Domestic Animals: Volume 2 by 
Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease by 
Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Pathology by 
Canine and Feline Cytopathology by 
Cowell and Tyler's Diagnostic Cytology and Hematology of the Dog and Cat by 
Avian Disease Manual by 
Avian Histopathology by 
Fish Disease: Diagnosis and Treatment (print) by 
Non-Human Primates in Biomedical Research: Volume 2, Diseases by Christian R. Abee (eBook) by 
Pathology of Laboratory Rodents and Rabbits (print) by 
Pathology of Wildlife and Zoo Animals by 
Pathology of Pet and Aviary Birds by Clinical Pathology Reading List (Phase II)
"This reading list is provided as guidance for candidates. The sources are common journals and textbooks that represent the appropriate level of pathology knowledge. Candidates should feel free to utilize other equivalent sources and they should seek mentor guidance if they are unclear about source equivalency. For journals, candidates should focus on articles published within the last five years but not that only articles in print or electronically released by January 1st of the exam year are considered for that year's exam. For textbooks, candidates should be utilizing a recent version that is representative of current pathology knowledge."
Fundamentals of Veterinary Clinical Pathology (print) by 
Fluid, Electrolyte, and Acid-Base Disorders in Small Animal Practice (print) by Canine and Feline Cytopathology by 
Atlas of Canine and Feline Urinalysis by 
Equine Hematology, Cytology, and Clinical Chemistry by 
Schalm's Veterinary Hematology by 
Veterinary Hematology, Clinical Chemistry, and Cytology by 
Veterinary Hematology - A Diagnostic Guide and Color Atlas by Cowell and Tyler's Diagnostic Cytology and Hematology of the Dog and Cat by 
Small Animal Cytologic Diagnosis by 
Veterinary Cytology by 
Clinical Atlas of Small Animal Cytology by 
Exotic Animal Hematology and Cytology by 