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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. Annual reports
   
   
   1. AVMA staff will mail electronic and hard copies of the annual report forms (see Appendix B (PDF)) to the ABVS representative from each fully recognized veterinary specialty organization no later than September 1. It is the representative's responsibility to ensure that the annual report form is forwarded to the appropriate individuals for completion. Completed forms must be received at the AVMA headquarters no later than November 1. To facilitate distribution of annual reports to the Annual Report Review Committee, each recognized veterinary specialty organization (RVSO) must submit 2 hard copies and an electronic copy of the completed annual report form.
      
      
   2. A summary of annual reports, including statistical information, is developed by staff prior to the annual meeting of the ABVS and is included in the agenda for this meeting.
      
      
   3. The Annual Report Review Committee reviews the annual reports of fully recognized veterinary specialty organizations. Reviewers complete a checklist and prepare a one- or two-page summary report for distribution to the ABVS. The composite review must be received at AVMA headquarters by January 15. Committee members should attempt to seek clarification to questions they have raised from the RVSO prior to the meeting.
   
   
2. In-depth reports
   
   
   1. Each RVSO is required to submit an in-depth report of its status and activities to the ABVS at five-year intervals following full recognition (see Appendix C (PDF)). AVMA staff will remind the ABVS representative and administrative executive of each RVSO in writing of pending in-depth five-year reports no later than May 1. Completed in-depth reports must be received at AVMA headquarters no later than November 1. To facilitate distribution of in-depth reports to the reviewers, each RVSO must submit 3 hard copies and an electronic copy of the completed report.
      
      
   2. The chair designates two ABVS representatives to review each five-year in-depth report before the annual ABVS meeting.
      
      
   3. Reviewers complete a checklist and prepare a one- or two-page summary report for distribution to the ABVS. The criteria found in section II, part B of the Policies of the ABVS are the primary basis for assessment of the completeness, clarity, and adequacy of the report. Reviews must be received at AVMA headquarters by January 15.
      
      
   4. Reviewers initiate and lead discussions and questioning of the representatives of the RVSO under review.
      
      
   5. One reviewer should be prepared to present a motion to the ABVS concerning the future recognition status of the RVSO under review.
      
      
   6. Motions approved by the ABVS concerning the recognition status of a RVSO shall be provided by the chair of the ABVS to that RVSO immediately so that any changes or explanations required by the ABVS can be acted upon. An addendum report by the RVSO (due by November 1) after the five-year in depth report shall be reviewed by the ABVS Executive Committee so that a final recommendation or report to and by ABVS on the status of the RVSO's five-year review can be made.
   
   
3. Interim reports
   
   
   1. Each RVSO with provisional or probationary recognition must submit an interim report (see Appendix D (PDF)) each year that describes that RVSO's progress toward meeting the requirements for full recognition.
      
      
   2. Completed forms must be received by AVMA no later than November 1.
   
   
4. Petitions from new veterinary specialty organizations, veterinary specialties, and veterinary subspecialties
   
   
   1. Liaison representative(s) are designated as set forth in section II part CI, section III part B, and section IV part B of the Policies of the ABVS to assist the prospective group with their petition. Petitioning veterinary specialty groups should consult their liaison representatives during preparation of the petition.
      
      
   2. Prior to submission to the ABVS, the petitioning veterinary specialty group should supply their liaison representative(s) with the entire petition addressing the criteria set forth in section II part B, section III part B, or section IV part B for RVSOs, recognized veterinary specialties, and recognized veterinary subspecialties, respectively, of the Policies of the ABVS. The petition will be reviewed for format and content. This should be done in a timely manner by the organizing group, but no later than September 1, to permit the liaison representative(s) time to review the petition, to communicate their comments to the petitioning organization, and to allow time for revision of the petition prior to the submission deadline, should that be necessary.
      
      Although the petitioning veterinary specialty group is not bound to accept the comments of the liaison representative(s), and the acceptance of any such comments does not ensure that the ABVS will accept the petition, it is generally believed that cooperation at this level will benefit the petitioning veterinary specialty group.
      
      If applicable (e.g., for a petitioning new veterinary specialty or subspecialty under an existing RVSO or RVS, respectively) a statement of preliminary approval of the petition package by a proposed parent RVSO or RVS must be included at the time the petition is submitted to the ABVS (see section III. B. 3 of the Policies)
      
      
   3. Completed petitions must be received by the AVMA no later than November 1.
      
      
   4. The petition will be referred to the Committee on Development of New Specialties (CDNS) at its next annual meeting. The CDNS may:
      
      
      1. Determine that the petition does not meet submission criteria as outlined in the Policies and Procedures Manual, at which point the petition is returned to the petitioning group with the CDNS comments.
      2. Determine that the petition meets submission criteria as outlined in the Policies and Procedures Manual.
      
      
   5. If the CDNS takes the action outlined in point 4b above, the chair will assign two ABVS members to serve as reviewers of the petition, with at least one of the reviewers also being a member of the CDNS. The CDNS will also initiate the public comment period (see Section II, Part C of the Policies of the ABVS), working closely with ABVS/AVMA staff.
      
      
      1. To provide additional information that will be linked within any call for public comments, the Organizing Committee of the proposed new specialty organization, specialty, or subspecialty, may develop an informational single Web page, to be approved by the CDNS, for posting on the ABVS Web area of the AVMA Web site. Content for this Web page must be submitted electronically to the CDNS no later than January 1 and approved by the CDNS no later than February 1 for immediate posting.
         
         
   6. The reviewers will submit a preliminary report of the petition, to the AVMA/ABVS office no later than February 1. The criteria found in Policy sections II through IV form the basis for evaluating the petition.
      
      
   7. The ABVS will consider the preliminary reviewers' report at its next meeting in February, and once accepted by the ABVS, the report will be forwarded to the Organizing Committee of the proposed new specialty organization, specialty, or subspecialty so that the Organizing Committee may address any questions or concerns. In addition, a representative of the Organizing Committee of the proposed new specialty organization, specialty, or subspecialty may attend the ABVS annual meeting at his/her own expense.
      
      
   8. Between the time of the annual ABVS meeting and the next CDNS meeting (typically end of February through early December), ABVS staff will forward to the reviewers any public comments received regarding the proposed new specialty organization, specialty, or subspecialty. In addition, the reviewers will continue to communicate with the Organizing Committee of the proposed new specialty organization, specialty, or subspecialty to address the concerns, answer questions, and further refine the petition. The reviewers' final report of the petition, to include recommendations to the CDNS regarding recognition of the proposed new specialty organization, specialty, or subspecialty, is due no later than November 1 to the AVMA/ABVS office for distribution to the CDNS. Any additional material from the Organizing Committee of the proposed new specialty organization, specialty, or subspecialty to support the petition is also due no later than November 1 to the AVMA/ABVS office.
      
      
   9. The CDNS considers the reviewers' report and recommendations and final petition/supporting documentation, to include the parent RVSO's or RVS's (if applicable) final endorsement of it's petition, at its next meeting, together with a summary of public comments received, and makes a final recommendation to the full ABVS regarding recognition of the proposed new specialty organization, specialty, or subspecialty. Final comments from the CDNS are sent to the Organizing Committee of the proposed new specialty organization, specialty, or subspecialty no later than January 1, and the Organizing Committee may submit responses to the ABVS no later than February 1.
      
      
   10. The CDNS member who also served as a review will present the CDNS recommendation concerning the petition, in the form of a motion to the ABVS at its next annual meeting (typically late February). A representative of the Organizing Committee of the proposed new specialty organization, specialty, or subspecialty may also attend the ABVS annual meeting at his/her own expense.
       
       
   11. If the ABVS votes to recommend provisional recognition of the proposed new specialty organization, specialty, or subspecialty, the recommendation is submitted to the AVMA COE for action.
       
       
   12. Provisional recognition is not granted unless the AVMA COE forwards a recommendation for provisional recognition to the AVMA Executive Board, and the Executive Board approves that recommendation.
   
   
5. AVMA staff reports
   
   After each annual meeting, AVMA staff submits one or more recommendations, which may be in summary form, on recognition status for RVSOs, RVSs, or RVSSs under review for full or provisional recognition to the Council on Education (COE). Recommendations are reviewed and approved by the ABVS chair prior to its submission to the COE. The COE reviews the ABVS recommendations and, if the COE is in agreement, forwards the recommendations to the AVMA Executive Board for approval. The AVMA Executive Board actions on the COE recommendations are then reviewed by the House of Delegates as part of the report of Executive Board actions.
   
   
6. Other reports
   
   AVMA staff prepares an annual summary of ABVS and RVSO activity, including the number of current active members in each RVSO, which is included as part of the administrative report to the AVMA House of Delegates for review at its annual session.

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