Doctors & Staff

What is a Specialist?

What is a specialist? In veterinary medicine, the term “specialist” is used to describe a veterinarian who has obtained at least 4 years (or the equivalent) of advanced training in a particular field. After passing rigorous examination by the College of their specialty, they earn the right to be called a “Board-Certified Specialist.”

Currently, the American Veterinary Medical Association recognizes the specialties of:

• Anesthesia
• Avian/Exotic Animal medicine
• Behavior
• Cardiology
• Dermatology
• Emergency/Critical care
• Internal Medicine
• Neurology
• Oncology
• Ophthalmology
• Radiology
• Surgery
  (includes orthopedic and soft-tissue surgery)
• Veterinary Practice

To obtain a veterinary degree one must graduate with a bachelor’s degree and then complete four years at an AVMA accredited veterinary school. Once the Degree of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) is achieved, the veterinarian has a choice to practice in a general practice or may choose to specialize in a preferred area of interest. These latter veterinarians may then become Board Certified in that specialty. Board Certification is achieved after one year of a rotating internship, three years of residency, followed by two to three days of rigorous testing, including oral, written and practical tests. This process allows for the veterinarian to become a Diplomat of the College of
their specified field (Surgery, Internal Medicine, Ophthalmology, etc).