Charge/Objective:
To furnish advice and assistance to those groups submitting petitions for establishment and recognition of specialty organizations; to review petitions to ensure that essential requirements established by the ABVS for specialty organizations are fulfilled; to make appropriate recommendations to the COE concerning granting of AVMA recognition; to receive and review annual reports from all AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organizations, and evaluate a detailed, in-depth review of each organization at 5-year intervals; to ascertain through annual reports and 5-year reviews that each recognized veterinary specialty organization's procedures for credentialing, examination, and appeals are administered fairly; and to actively promote specialization and encourage the availability and enhanced use of specialty services by the veterinary profession and the public.

Criteria for recognition of veterinary specialty are currently published in the Policies and Procedures of the American Veterinary Medical Association American Board of Veterinary Specialties (www.avma.org/education/abvs/default.asp).

Meetings:
Once per year, prior to the spring meeting of the Council on Education. The 3-member ABVS Executive Committee meets in late November or early December to accept reports and petitions and establish the agenda for the annual ABVS meeting.

Representation:
One member from the following organizations and from additional specialty colleges or boards as they are established: American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, American Board of Veterinary Toxicology, American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine, American College of Poultry Veterinarians, American College of Theriogenologists, American College of Veterinary Anesthesiologists, American College of Veterinary Behaviorists, American College of Veterinary Clinical Pharmacology, American College of Veterinary Dermatology, American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care, American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine, American College of Veterinary Microbiologists, American College of Veterinary Nutrition, American College of Veterinary Ophthalmologists, American College of Veterinary Pathologists, American College of Veterinary Preventive Medicine, American College of Veterinary Radiology, American College of Veterinary Surgeons, American College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, American College of Zoological Medicine, American Veterinary Dental College, Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, Council on Education.