General Exam
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| ADMIN WINDOW | EXAM | ADMIN LOCATION | DURATION |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday, May 4, 2026 – Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | Small Animal - General Exam | *Live Remote or Testing Center | **4.5 hours with an optional 30-minute break after completion of 75 questions or 2.25 hours, whichever occurs first |
| Monday, May 4, 2026 – Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | Large Animal - General Exam | *Live Remote or Testing Center | **4.5 hours with an optional 30-minute break after completion of 75 questions or 2.25 hours, whichever occurs first |
Candidate Study Guidelines
General LAIM Exam Blueprint
General SAIM Exam Blueprint
*The 2026 exams will be administered electronically (computer-based testing). Candidates will have the option to take their exam via live remote proctoring (Proproctor) or in a Prometric testing center. Additional information regarding 2026 administration will be forthcoming.
** In addition to the time provided to test, 15 minutes will be automatically added to your scheduled seat time to review instructions and take an optional survey at the conclusion of the exam.
General Exam Registration and Candidate Information
- 2026 General Exam Confirmed Registrants
- Cardiology Candidate Information 2026
- LAIM Candidate Information 2026
- Neurology Candidate Information 2026
- Nutrition Candidate Information 2026
- Oncology Candidate Information 2026
- SAIM Candidate Information 2026
Multiple Choice Question Writing Information
- Multiple Choice Guidelines
(Detailed formatting instructions) - ABIM Question Writing Guidelines
(Examples from ABIM)
General Exam Job Task Analysis Report
Exam Structure and Scoring
The General Examination consists of one section (one for LAIM and one for SAIM) with 150 equally weighted multiple choice questions.
The pass point for the General Exam is determined by either a standard setting process where Diplomates rate the examination based on the definition of the minimal level of competence or a statistical procedure called equating which is used to adjust for any differences in the level of difficulty across examination forms. The pass point is approved by the ACVIM Certification Council.
ACVIM has adopted a standardized scoring range for all certification exams. This change ensures greater consistency and transparency in score reporting.