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Annual Report Form
- RVSO (.rtf)

Annual Report Form
- RVS (.rtf)

Veterinary Specialty Organizations

Veterinary Specialists Market Statistics

= AVMA/SAVMA  Members Only

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In 1950, the AVMA Executive Board received applications for recognition from the first two veterinary specialty organizations. These applications were from the American College of Veterinary Pathologists (ACVP) dated February 10, 1950, and from the American Board of Veterinary Public Health (ABVPH) dated July 31, 1950. The applications were referred to the Council on Education (COE) and the Association of Deans of American Veterinary Colleges for recommendations. In 1951, the AVMA House of Representatives approved criteria for recognition of veterinary specialty organizations. At the same meeting, the House of Representatives approved recognition of the ACVP and the ABVPH, and assigned the responsibility of reviewing future applications to the COE and the AVMA Executive Board. In 1957, upon the recommendation of the COE and the Executive Board, the AVMA House of Representatives granted recognition to the American College of Laboratory Animal Medicine (ACLAM).

In 1959, the COE recommended, and the House of Delegates approved, the establishment of an Advisory Board on Veterinary Specialties. The resolution establishing the Advisory Board on Veterinary Specialties also specified its composition and outlined its duties, and directed the COE to review and take action on recommendations submitted to it by the Advisory Board on Veterinary Specialties. The initial meeting of the Advisory Board on Veterinary Specialties occurred on February 20, 1960. In 1961, the House approved two documents developed by the Advisory Board on Veterinary Specialties: one was titled "Procedures for Establishment of Veterinary Specialty Organizations," and the other, "Rules for Organization and Operation of the Advisory Board on Veterinary Specialties." The Procedures document restated the criteria approved by the Executive Board in 1951. The rules, criteria, and procedures have been updated, revised, and approved by the House of Delegates in 1969, 1981, 1985, 1988, 1990, 1991, and 1992. The Advisory Board of Veterinary Specialties was renamed the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) in 1992. The most recent update of the rules, criteria, and procedures of the ABVS were approved by the AVMA Executive Board in 2007.

1. Relationships of organizational units in veterinary specialization (see Figure 1 (PDF)).
   
   
2. The objectives and duties of the ABVS are to:
   
   
   1. Establish and evaluate criteria for determining whether a proposed specialty fills a recognizable need and represents a distinct area of specialization in veterinary medicine. The ABVS also determines whether a sufficient number of qualified and interested veterinarians exist to form a new recognized veterinary specialty organization (RVSO).
      
      
   2. Furnish advice and assistance to those groups submitting petitions for establishment and recognition of veterinary specialty organizations. The ABVS will:
      
      
      1. Provide guidance and encourage development under the AVMA umbrella.
         
         
      2. Encourage emerging groups, when appropriate, to organize under an existing RVSO.
         
         
      3. Encourage existing RVSOs to embrace appropriate emerging specialties and subspecialties.
         
         
   3. Review petitions to ensure that essential requirements established by the ABVS for veterinary specialty organizations are fulfilled.
      
      
   4. Make appropriate recommendations to the COE concerning the granting of AVMA recognition.
      
      
   5. 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.
      
      
   6. Ascertain through annual reports and 5-year reviews that each RVSO's procedures for credentialing, examination, and appeals are administered fairly.
      
      
   7. Function, according to established guidelines, as a facilitator for requests for mediation between candidates or applicants for specialty board certification and RVSOs, and assure that the established appeal procedures of RVSOs are fully implemented.
      
      
   8. Actively promote specialization and encourage the availability and enhanced use of specialty services by the veterinary profession and the public.
   
   
   
3. Representation on the ABVS
   
   Membership and voting privileges are accorded to one representative from each AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization. An alternate should be designated by each RVSO to attend ABVS meetings if the representative is unavailable.
   
   
4. Liaisons to the ABVS
   
   One liaison representative from the COE and one liaison representative from the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) will attend meetings of the ABVS. The liaison representatives are non-voting members.
   
   
5. Appointment and tenure of representatives
   
   Representatives and alternates shall be appointed by each RVSO for renewable four-year (minimum) terms. Terms begin and end at the close of the annual session of the AVMA House of Delegates, which is held in conjunction with the AVMA annual convention. Representatives and alternates must be AVMA members in good standing, fulfill all of the requirements for the position at the time of the appointment, and understand the assignment and be willing to serve. In addition, it is recommended that each ABVS representative be a member of the RVSO's governing body or be invited to serve in a manner that ensures communication between each RVSO and the ABVS occurs in a consistent and timely manner. Each RVSO must convey current contact information for existing and newly appointed representatives and alternates to AVMA staff by July 1 of each year. To ensure continuity of ABVS operations, RVSOs should appoint representatives and alternates who are committed to fulfilling the responsibilities of the position for the full term elected. However, if a representative or alternate cannot complete the term of his/her appointment, the RVSO will appoint a new representative and/or alternate to fill the unexpired term and must notify AVMA staff in writing within 10 days of when that new information is available.
   
   
6. ABVS meetings
   
   The annual meeting of the ABVS is held during the late winter or early spring, prior to the scheduled meeting of the COE of each year. The ABVS Executive Committee and the Committee on Development of New Specialties are authorized to meet during the fall of each year to prepare for the annual meeting of the ABVS.
   
   
7. Reports to the COE
   
   After each annual ABVS meeting, AVMA staff prepares a report, in the form of recommendations for action by the COE, for review and approval by the ABVS chair. These recommendations are included in the agenda of the next meeting of the COE.
   
   
8. ABVS meeting expenses
   
   The AVMA pays travel, lodging, and meal expenses for each RVSO's representative (or the alternate, but not both) to each regularly scheduled meeting.

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