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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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1. Definition of a recognized veterinary specialty organization (RVSO)
   
   Only a veterinary organization that is devoted to a specialty recognized by the AVMA is referred to as a RVSO.
   
   
2. Criteria for recognition of veterinary specialty organizations by the AVMA
   
   A veterinary specialty organization recognized by the AVMA must:
   
   
   1. Demonstrate that improved veterinary medical services will be provided to the public.
      
      
   2. Have a necessary number of potential diplomates to serve a clearly defined need within the profession.
      
      
   3. Represent a distinct and identifiable specialty of veterinary medicine, one that is supported by a base of scientific knowledge and practice and that is acceptable to the profession and the public.
      
      
   4. Establish and abide by clearly stated standards for admission to membership.
      
      
      1. The RVSO must examine only veterinarians who:
         1. Graduated from a college or school of veterinary medicine accredited by the AVMA; or possess a certificate issued by the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG); or are legally qualified to practice veterinary medicine in some state, province, territory, or possession of the United States, Canada, or other country.
         2. Meet the education, training, and experience requirements established by the RVSO.
         3. Demonstrate unquestionable moral character and ethical professional behavior.
         
         
         
      2. The RVSO must certify only veterinarians who have demonstrated, by meeting established training and/or experience requirements and by attaining acceptable scores on comprehensive examinations administered by the RVSO, their fitness and ability to practice the specialty.
      
      
      
   5. Ensure that all training or experience requirements and all prerequisites for examination serve the purpose of assessing the competency of the candidate.
      
      
   6. Establish approved routes through education, training, and experience to qualify candidates for examination.
      
      
   7. Not require any period that involves merely a passage of time (waiting period) between successful completion of formal training and eligibility to sit for examination. Experience requirements must be clearly defined, relevant to the objectives of the specialty, and amenable to evaluation.
      
      
   8. Notify candidates promptly of any deficiencies in credentials that prevent their examination or certification by the RVSO.
      
      
   9. Adhere to the following examination procedures:
      
      
      1. Written or oral examinations must reflect the professional competence expected of the diplomate.
         
         
      2. Time between final credentials decisions and the examination date must be sufficient (not less than 120 days) to permit adequate examination preparation.
         
         
      3. If a candidate's credentials are denied and an appeal is filed, the RVSO must review this appeal and inform the candidate of their decision at least 45 days prior to the examination date.
         
         
      4. Candidates must receive a content outline (blueprint) of the exam and exam format prior to the exam.
         
         
      5. Candidates should be informed prior to the examination of the passing point, or, if this is not determined in advance, the method of setting the passing point. The passing point may be adjusted lower but not higher after administering the exam.
         
         
      6. Avoid personal conflict, or the appearance of conflict, that could affect results of examinations.
         
         
      7. Candidates must be notified of their examination results contemporaneously. Regardless of notification method, each candidate who took the examination must be notified of his/her result prior to notifying the general membership. A reasonable time limit must be established (not to exceed 45 days) for notifying candidates with the results of the examination.
         
         
      8. Candidates who do not successfully complete the examination (including any oral examination), must, upon request, be provided with an explanation of the deficiencies that prevented their passing the examination. This procedure must be published by the veterinary specialty organization prior to the examination.
         
         
      9. All candidates must be informed of their remaining eligibility and reapplication procedures.
         
         
      10. Accommodate reasonable requests from applicants with documented disabilities for special test considerations in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Model language for ADA requests is provided in appendix F.
          
          
   10. Issue certificates attesting to diplomate status:
       
       
       1. There shall be one certificate for each RVSO and/or recognized veterinary specialty (should the RVSO have more than one recognized veterinary specialty [RVS]) indicating the individual is certified in the AVMA-recognized specialty.
          
          
       2. If certificates are to be time-limited (eg, for the purposes of recertification), this must be clearly specified at the time that certificates are issued to new diplomates
       
       
   11. Establish a formal appeal procedure for candidates in case of an adverse decision by the RVSO. The appeal procedure must appear in the constitution or bylaws of the organization, and must accompany each application form.
       
       
   12. Encourage and implement special training beyond the professional veterinary degree to enhance the ability of candidates to meet certification requirements and to maintain the competence of diplomates.
       
       
   13. Avoid contracts or agreements leading to activities outside the scope of the stated objectives of the RVSO.
       
       
   14. The constitution, bylaws, and/or policies and procedures documents (eg, policy and procedure manuals, standard operating procedures) of RVSOs and RVSs must contain elements as specified in section II, part D5 of the Policies of the ABVS. Organizations must notify the ABVS of all changes in the RVSO's and RVS's constitution, bylaws, and/or other policies and procedures documents at the time of the next annual report. Annual reports should include previous and newly accepted wording.
       
       
   15. Be legally incorporated as a not-for-profit educational organization within a state or district of the United States, and have a determination made as to the federal tax status of the organization. Groups are encouraged to incorporate and secure tax exemption under section 501(C)(3) or 501 (C) (6) of the Internal Revenue Service code.
       
       
3. Procedures for obtaining AVMA recognition of a veterinary specialty organization
   
   
   1. A group of veterinarians forming an organization devoted to a specialty and seeking AVMA recognition must submit a letter of intent to the AVMA.
      
      On receipt of a letter of intent:
      
      
      1. The chair of the ABVS will assign two members of the ABVS to liaise with the group and assist them in preparing a petition for recognition as described in Section II, parts B and D of the Policies of the ABVS.
         
         
      2. The liaison(s) will submit a written report to the ABVS Committee on the Development of New Specialties (CDNS) to document the progress of the group toward developing a petition for recognition as a veterinary specialty organization. The liaisons' report will be presented by the Chair of the CDNS at the annual ABVS meeting.
         
         
      3. The entire petition (see section IV, part D of the Procedures of the ABVS) must be submitted to the ABVS no more than four years after submission of the letter of intent. In addition, the petition should be submitted to the liaison(s) for comments prior to submission to the ABVS (see section IV, part D of the Operating Procedures of the ABVS).
      
      
   2. A formal petition for AVMA recognition of a veterinary specialty organization must be submitted to the ABVS by November 1 for initial consideration during the fall meeting of the ABVS Committee on the Development of New Specialties (CDNS).
      
      
   3. All petitions will be reviewed by the CDNS before being sent for ABVS review. After initial consideration at the first fall meeting and prior to its next fall meeting, the CDNS will solicit information and opinion from the profession and from the public concerning AVMA recognition of the proposed veterinary specialty organization. Input will be directly solicited from the following groups:
      
      
      1. The AVMA membership through an announcement in the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association and on the AVMA Web site.
         
         
      2. Existing RVSOs.
         
         
      3. Appropriate veterinary societies and academies.
         
         
      4. Appropriate educational, research, governmental, military, commercial, and public bodies.
      
      
   4. At the next fall meeting of the CDNS, the committee will review the information and opinions gathered, further review the petition, and determine whether the petition should be forwarded to the full ABVS for consideration.
      
      
   5. Representatives of the organizing group will be invited to attend, at their own expense, the next annual meeting of the ABVS when their petition will be considered.
      
      
   6. The ABVS reviews the petition presented and makes appropriate suggestions to the organizing committee regarding additions or corrections. When the presented material is found to meet all of the criteria in section II, parts B and D of the Policies of the ABVS, and is recommended for approval by the ABVS, the ABVS forwards the petition along with its recommendation for recognition to the COE.
      
      
   7. The COE reviews the petition and the recommendation of the ABVS. If the review is favorable, and it appears that the specialty organization meets the applicable criteria found in section II, Parts B and D of the Policies of the ABVS, the Council recommends to the AVMA Executive Board that the petitioning organization be granted provisional recognition. If results of the COE review are not favorable, the petition is returned to the ABVS with a statement of deficiencies identified.
      
      
   8. After provisional recognition has been granted by the AVMA Executive Board, the newly recognized veterinary specialty organization takes any necessary steps to complete formalization of its structure and proceeds to function under its constitution and/or bylaws. The RVSO may examine and certify candidates, collect dues, send a representative to ABVS meetings, and conduct other business as specified in its constitution and/or bylaws.
      
      
   9. After a minimum of four years, but not more than ten years, under provisional recognition, a veterinary specialty organization may submit a request for full recognition to the ABVS. The ABVS may grant an extension of the 10-year time limit, if an extension is requested in writing. A petition for full recognition should be organized in the format described under the guidelines for five-year in-depth reviews (see section V, part B of the Policies of the ABVS), and should indicate that the organization is fully functional and fulfilling its stated objectives.
      
      
   10. The ABVS reviews the request for full recognition and makes appropriate suggestions to the provisionally recognized veterinary specialty organization concerning any necessary additions or corrections. If the documentation indicates that the organization meets all of the criteria in section II, parts B and D of the Policies of the ABVS, and is functioning effectively, the ABVS forwards the petition with a recommendation for approval to the COE.
       
       
   11. The COE reviews the request and the recommendations of the ABVS. If the COE review is favorable and it appears that the specialty organization meets the criteria listed in section II, parts B and D of the Policies of the ABVS and is functioning effectively, the COE recommends to the AVMA Executive Board that the requesting organization be granted full recognition. If the COE review is not favorable, the petition is returned to the ABVS with a statement of deficiencies identified.
       
       
   12. The AVMA Executive Board makes the final decision to grant or not grant recognition to a veterinary specialty organization. Decisions of the Executive Board are reported annually to the AVMA House of Delegates.
       
       
   13. At any point during review of a petition for recognition of a veterinary specialty organization (as described in section II, parts C3 through C12 of the Policies of the ABVS), adverse decisions may be rendered. The entity denying approval will notify the requesting veterinary specialty organization, and any agency that forwarded that request, of the adverse decision and the reasons for it within 30 days of the decision. The requesting veterinary specialty organization will also be informed of its rights of appeal under the established general appellate procedures of the AVMA. The requesting veterinary specialty organization may take action to correct the deficiencies identified and resubmit its request for recognition, may petition the agency that made the adverse decision for reconsideration, or may appeal to the AVMA Board of Governors for review of the decision. Petitions for reconsideration or additional review should be made in accordance with the established general appellate procedures of the AVMA.
   
   
4. Contents for a petition for a new veterinary specialty organization
   
   
   1. A veterinary specialty organization seeking AVMA recognition should designate an organizing committee limited in number to those essential to conduct the business of the specialty and to achieve provisional recognition. Members of the organizing committee should be veterinarians recognized as exceptionally qualified and who meet one or more of the following criteria:
      
      
      1. Be a professor of the proposed specialty in a college or department of veterinary medicine.
         
         
      2. Be an author of important publications resulting from research or practice in the specialty.
         
         
      3. Have at least 10 years' experience in the specialty and, by teaching, research, or practice, have contributed substantially to the development of the specialty.
         
         
      4. Have advanced training in the specialty and have demonstrated competency through teaching, research, or practice in the specialty to which most of the individual's professional time is devoted.
         
         
      5. The petition must contain a curriculum vitae (see Appendix A (PDF)) for each member of the organizing committee.
         
         
   2. Members of the organizing committee:
      
      
      1. Should include representatives from academia, research, industry, government, and the private sector where appropriate.
         
         
      2. Should come from diverse geographical areas.
         
         
      3. May include diplomates of another RVSO to assist in the organization of the new specialty but who do not wish to become a diplomate of the new specialty.
         
         
      4. May or may not automatically become Charter Diplomates of the new specialty organization upon its recognition (see Section VII, part I of the Procedures of the ABVS).
         
         
   3. The organization must document that it meets the criteria for veterinary specialty organizations recognized by the AVMA as specified in section II, parts B1 through B15, of the Policies of the ABVS. Each item should be specifically addressed. The veterinary specialty organization must document the number of potential diplomates of the specialty available and convince the ABVS that within a reasonable period of time, growth of the veterinary specialty organization will result in a number of specialists that will have an impact on organized, private, corporate, academic, industrialized, or governmental veterinary medicine and the public. The veterinary specialty organization must justify its role in fulfilling a recognizable need and demonstrate that its existence is acceptable to the profession and the public. The veterinary specialty organization must identify the base of scientific knowledge and practice that distinguishes it from all existing RVSOs. It will be necessary to:
      
      
      1. Define the scientific basis of the proposed specialty.
         
         
      2. Relate the subject matter to current professional and postgraduate veterinary medical curricula.
         
         
      3. Describe how diplomates would be employed in public, institutional, and private practice (including the approximate number employed in each category, and the scientific disciplines relevant to each category).
         
         
      4. Describe current or proposed continuing education programs.
      
      
      
   4. There should be a description of relationships and commonalities with existing RVSOs.
      
      
   5. There should be an explanation of why the relationships and commonalities with existing organizations are insufficient to warrant inclusion as a veterinary specialty or veterinary subspecialty of an existing organization.
      
      
   6. A copy of the proposed constitution and/or bylaws and all available policies and procedures documents should be submitted, which shall contain within these documents, at minimum:
      
      
      1. The name of the RVSO.
         
         
      2. A statement of objectives.
         
         
      3. Titles, election procedures, and duties of officers.
         
         
      4. A description of membership categories, including duties, privileges, and method of selection for each.
         
         
      5. A statement of the prerequisites for candidacy, including education, experience, publications, teaching, research, nature of supervision, and qualifications of preceptors that may be required.
         
         
      6. A description of approved methods of qualifying for candidacy for those unable or unwilling to enroll in formal training or residency programs.
         
         
      7. A description of the scope and nature of certifying examinations.
         
         
      8. Procedures for establishing and amending dues and fees.
         
         
      9. Causes and procedures for censuring or suspending diplomates or canceling certification.
         
         
      10. Procedures for appealing adverse decisions.
          
          
      11. Procedures for conducting business and meetings.
          
          
      12. Procedures for amending the constitution and/or bylaws.
      
      
      
   7. There should be a description of how the specialty plans to organize and initiate its functions (eg, how the initial officers will perform their duties, how examinations will be prepared, administered, and monitored, and how training programs will be established).
      
      
   8. There should be evidence that facilities and programs are available for advanced training of veterinarians that will lead to certification in the veterinary specialty. A description of existing educational programs, including established postgraduate educational programs and the number of people in these programs must be provided. Objectives, measures of competence, and expected contributions and measurements of the success of such programs should be specified. Evidence for the continued existence and growth of educational programs in the veterinary specialty must be included.
      
      
   9. A list of current and past officers of the organizing agency and a list of proposed charter diplomates of the veterinary specialty organization should be included, if applicable. Charter diplomates must be members of the organizing committee.
      
      
   10. There should be a financial statement.

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