PracticeVideosBlogFlashcardsEspañol
All Practice Exams

Free Practice Questions for ACLAM

Exam-style questions and explanations by OpenExamPrep.

✓ No registration✓ No credit card
100+ Questions
100% Free

Loading practice questions...

Same family resources

Explore More Veterinary Specialty Boards

Continue into nearby exams from the same family. Each card keeps practice questions, study guides, flashcards, videos, and articles in one place.

ABVP Veterinary Practice (Species-Specific)

Practice Questions

ABVT American Board of Veterinary Toxicology

Practice Questions

ACAW American College of Animal Welfare

Practice Questions

ACPV American College of Poultry Veterinarians

Practice Questions

ACT American College of Theriogenologists (Reproduction)

Practice Questions

ACVAA Veterinary Anesthesia and Analgesia

Practice Questions
Exam Review

Key Facts: ACLAM Exam

AVMA RVSO

Recognized 1957

ACLAM (aclam.org)

Guide 8th

2011 Edition

NRC Lab Animal Care

IACUC ≥5

Members PHS

Chair, vet, scientist, non-sci, non-affiliated

CBT

Format

Single combined exam, all MCQ

ACLAM is the AVMA-recognized vet specialty board for laboratory animal medicine. Single combined CBT (all MCQ). Master species-specific biology (C57BL/6 mouse strain, Sprague-Dawley rat, NZW rabbit, NHP B virus risk), Guide 8th edition standards, IACUC composition (5 members), AWA exclusions (rats/mice/birds for research), PHS Policy scope (all vertebrates if PHS-funded), and USDA pain categories B/C/D/E.

Sample ACLAM Practice Questions

Try these sample questions to review concepts for the ACLAM exam. Each question includes a detailed explanation. Start the interactive quiz above for the full 100+ question experience with AI tutoring.

1Which inbred mouse strain is the most widely used genetic background for laboratory research?
A.BALB/c
B.C57BL/6
C.DBA/2
D.CBA/J
Explanation: C57BL/6 is the most widely used inbred mouse strain and serves as the standard genetic background for genetically engineered mice, including most knockout and transgenic lines.
2What is the typical gestation length for the laboratory mouse (Mus musculus)?
A.14-16 days
B.19-21 days
C.23-25 days
D.28-30 days
Explanation: The mouse gestation period is approximately 19 to 21 days, with weaning typically performed at 21 days of age.
3Mouse hepatitis virus (MHV) is most appropriately classified as which type of pathogen?
A.Picornavirus
B.Coronavirus
C.Parvovirus
D.Herpesvirus
Explanation: Mouse hepatitis virus is a coronavirus and is one of the most prevalent and consequential excluded pathogens in laboratory mouse colonies, causing enteric and hepatic disease and confounding immunologic studies.
4Which excluded murine pathogen is a calicivirus that infects intestinal macrophages and dendritic cells?
A.Mouse parvovirus (MPV)
B.Mouse norovirus (MNV)
C.Sendai virus
D.Pneumonia virus of mice
Explanation: Murine norovirus (MNV) is a calicivirus that is one of the most prevalent infections of laboratory mice, primarily targeting intestinal macrophages and dendritic cells and persisting subclinically.
5Which Helicobacter species is commonly excluded from immunocompromised mouse colonies because it can cause inflammatory bowel disease and hepatitis?
A.Helicobacter pylori
B.Helicobacter hepaticus
C.Helicobacter cinaedi
D.Helicobacter mustelae
Explanation: Helicobacter hepaticus colonizes the cecum and colon, and in susceptible (often immunocompromised) mice it causes typhlocolitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and hepatitis with increased risk of hepatocellular tumors.
6Which mite species is the most common fur mite identified in contemporary laboratory mouse colonies?
A.Myocoptes musculinus
B.Sarcoptes scabiei
C.Demodex canis
D.Notoedres cati
Explanation: Myocoptes musculinus is the most commonly recovered fur mite in laboratory mice, often in mixed infestations with Myobia musculi. Both are surface-dwelling fur mites detectable by pelt exam or PCR.
7C57BL/6 mice fed a high-fat Western diet are particularly useful as a model of which condition?
A.Type 1 diabetes
B.Diet-induced obesity and atherosclerosis
C.Spontaneous lupus
D.Allergic asthma
Explanation: C57BL/6 mice are highly susceptible to diet-induced obesity, glucose intolerance, and atherosclerosis when fed a high-fat Western diet, making them a standard background for metabolic and cardiovascular research.
8Which of the following are commonly used outbred laboratory rat stocks?
A.Lewis and F344
B.Sprague-Dawley and Wistar
C.Long-Evans inbred and Brown Norway inbred
D.BN/SsN and PVG
Explanation: Sprague-Dawley and Wistar are the most widely used outbred (stock) rats. Lewis, F344, and Brown Norway are inbred strains.
9Sialodacryoadenitis virus (SDAV) of the rat is a member of which virus family?
A.Coronaviridae
B.Paramyxoviridae
C.Adenoviridae
D.Reoviridae
Explanation: SDAV is a coronavirus that causes sialoadenitis, dacryoadenitis, and Harderian gland inflammation, with characteristic 'porphyrin tears' (chromodacryorrhea) and cervical swelling.
10Which of the following is the typical gestation length for the laboratory rat?
A.14-16 days
B.19-21 days
C.21-23 days
D.30-32 days
Explanation: The laboratory rat has a gestation period of approximately 21 to 23 days, slightly longer than the mouse.

About the ACLAM Exam

AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty board for laboratory animal medicine. Single combined CBT exam (written + practical merged 2010). Covers laboratory animal biology by species (mouse, rat, rabbit, NHP, dog, pig, ferret, zebrafish, Xenopus), clinical medicine and surgery, pathology (spontaneous lesions in common strains), resource management (facility design, HVAC, biosecurity), animal experimentation (model selection, GLP, study design), and US animal research regulations (AWA, PHS Policy, ARENA/OLAW Guide 8th edition, AAALAC, USDA categories B/C/D/E).

Exam sponsor: ACLAM. The requirements and fees below concern the certification or admission exam, separate from our free practice resources.

Questions

100 questions

Time Limit

Per ACLAM

Passing Score

Per ACLAM (single combined CBT, pass/fail)

Exam / Certification Fees

Per ACLAM

Exam sponsor website

Fees, eligibility, and exam policies can change. Confirm them with the exam sponsor before applying or paying.

Official sources

Our practice resources: topics covered

We aim to reflect publicly available exam outlines and topic information in our study resources. Coverage, format, and difficulty may differ from the actual exam, and we cannot guarantee that every detail is accurate or current. Confirm exam requirements, fees, and policies with the official exam sponsor.

25%

Biology by Species

Mouse, rat, rabbit, NHP, dog, pig, ferret, zebrafish, Xenopus

20%

Clinical Medicine & Surgery

Common diseases, anesthesia (isoflurane, ket/xyl), analgesia (buprenorphine, meloxicam), surgery

15%

Pathology

Gross/histopath, common spontaneous lesions (B6 lymphoma, F344 pituitary)

15%

Resource Management

Facility design, HVAC (10-15 ACH), biosecurity, IACUC, costs

15%

Animal Experimentation

Model selection, GLP, study design, refinement (3Rs)

10%

Regulations

AWA, PHS Policy, ARENA/OLAW Guide 8th, AAALAC, USDA pain categories

Preparing for the ACLAM Exam

What You Need to Know

  • Passing score: Per ACLAM (single combined CBT, pass/fail)
  • Exam length: 100 questions
  • Time limit: Per ACLAM
  • Exam / certification fees: Per ACLAM Official sources

Using Our Practice Resources

  • Work through all 100 available questions
  • Review every answer and explanation
  • Track weak areas and revisit them
  • Use our AI tutor for tough concepts

ACLAM: Suggested Study Strategy

1Master the Guide (8th edition 2011) — the primary regulatory reference
2Memorize species-specific facts: C57BL/6 lymphoma; F344 pituitary; NHP B virus zoonosis; vit C requirement guinea pig
3Drill IACUC composition (5 members: chair, vet, scientist, non-scientist, non-affiliated)
4Know AWA exclusions (rats/mice/birds for research) vs PHS Policy scope (all vertebrates if PHS-funded)
5Apply USDA pain categories B/C/D/E and the heightened scrutiny for E

Frequently Asked Questions

What animals are excluded from the AWA?

AWA (Animal Welfare Act) excludes from coverage: rats of the genus Rattus and mice of the genus Mus that are bred for use in RESEARCH; birds; and farm animals used for agricultural research, food, or fiber. AWA still covers warm-blooded animals used in research/teaching/testing (rabbits, dogs, cats, NHPs, livestock used in NON-agricultural research). PHS Policy is broader — covers ALL VERTEBRATE animals if the activity is PHS-funded (rats, mice, birds, fish included).

What are USDA pain/distress categories B-E?

USDA APHIS uses categories on the annual report (Form 7023): Category B — animals BRED for research not yet used in studies; Category C — used in procedures involving NO PAIN/DISTRESS or only momentary pain; Category D — pain/distress relieved by anesthesia, analgesia, or tranquilizers; Category E — pain/distress NOT relieved (e.g., pain study endpoints). Category E receives the most regulatory scrutiny and requires specific scientific justification.

How many members are required on an IACUC?

PHS Policy requires minimum 5 members: a chair, a veterinarian (with training/experience in lab animal science), a scientist with experience in research involving animals, a non-scientist member, and a member NOT affiliated with the institution other than as IACUC member. AWA requires minimum 3 (chair, veterinarian, non-affiliated). Most institutions follow PHS minimums to maintain dual compliance. Quorum required for protocol approval.

How should I study for ACLAM?

Plan 1,000+ hours over residency. Master the Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals (8th edition 2011) cover-to-cover — primary reference. Use Fox, Anderson, Loew & Quimby Laboratory Animal Medicine (3rd ed) and Suckow Laboratory Mouse/Rat. Attend AALAS National Meeting; complete LAREF and ARENA/OLAW IACUC courses. Case logs from residency (or alternate pathway) are application requirements.