Certification - Requirements

Each candidate must meet two specific requirements before taking the certifying examination:

  1. Completed one of the following:
    1. Training Program Option:
      Have completed a training program in laboratory animal medicine following receipt of the veterinary medical degree (DVM_
      1. Training program must be completed by the time of the application deadline.
      2. Training programs should be structured to meet the ACLAM Training Program Minimal Standards.
      3. Training programs must be two or more years in duration.
      4. A Diplomate must serve as director of a training program and the training program must be recognized by the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine. An applicant is ineligible to apply under the training program option if their training has not been formally recognized by ACLAM.
      5. Currently recognized Training Programs in Laboratory Animal Medicine.

    2. Experience Option:
      Applicants may qualify to take the examination after a minimum of six years relevant, full-time experience in laboratory animal medicine, at the time of the exam, following receipt of the veterinary medical degree (DVM).
      1. Experience is comprised of both a time and quality component. It is defined as the direct performance and/or participation in activities that characterize the laboratory animal specialist. These activities include: clinical medicine involving laboratory animal species, animal resource management, technician/investigator teaching and training, consultation on laboratory animal medicine topics, formal teaching and research, and participation in organized laboratory animal medicine.
        Qualifying experience need not include all these activities, but engaging in only one or two of the activities may not be considered as qualifying.
      2. Graduates of foreign schools not accredited or approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association should submit an Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduate (ECFVG) certificate, or evidence they are qualified to practice veterinary medicine in some state, province, territory, or possession of the United States, Canada or other country. All times for schooling and experience are calculated up to the time of the application deadline.
      3. Credit calculations:
        1. Part-time experience will be calculated based on the portion of time that was spent in laboratory animal medicine related work; e.g., if an individual worked half-time for 1 year in a laboratory animal medicine related-position, 6 months of full time laboratory animal medicine experience can be claimed (50% x 12 mo.)
        2. Non-laboratory animal professional experience (private veterinary practice, meat inspector, teaching non-laboratory animal medicine subjects, etc.), is given experience credit on the basis of one month laboratory animal medicine experience for every 6 months of non-laboratory animal medicine professional experience. However, no more than 12 months credit can be given.
        3. The remaining five years must be full time laboratory animal medicine experience. An individual must be engaged in laboratory animal medicine for at least 20% effort to receive any credit.
        4. Experience credit will be given for graduate or post-veterinary medical degree research programs (other than formal laboratory animal medicine programs) that include the use of animals. Credit will be given on the basis of one month credit for each two months of the program up to a maximum of 24 months credit.

  2. Published a first author original article:
    1. Candidate will have been the first author of an original article which demonstrates application of the scientific method in the biological sciences (or in the physical sciences or other scientific area if relevant to laboratory animal medicine).
    2. The article must have been published in a peer-reviewed journal and be fully accepted at the time of application.
    3. An original scientific article should contain the following elements:
      1. Introduction that contains information, which provides support and serves as a basis for the study.
      2. A statement of the hypothesis or question under study. A materials and methods section that delineates how the study was conducted.
      3. A section containing results of the study.
      4. A section that analyzes the results of the study.
      5. A conclusion, summary or abstract that concisely states the findings of the study and places them in perspective.

Review ACLAM By-Laws Article II on certification.

[to top]