What is a Board Certified veterinary specialist? How is a specialist different from my family veterinarian?
In addition to completing undergraduate training and four years of veterinary school, Board Certified veterinary specialists are similar to their human medical counterparts in that they have completed an internship and residency in their specialized field, which involves an additional three to five years of training. In addition to this advanced training, a Board Certified veterinary specialist must pass two rigorous examinations to achieve Board certification from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS), or the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM). Specialists offer a greater knowledge in the area of Surgery, Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Neurology, or Oncology, and possess an understanding of the unusual, the uncommon, or rare medical conditions in animals. Additionally, a specialist may have diagnostic equipment not generally implemented by your family veterinarian.
