How does one become a specialist?

[Cornish]

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I was curious as to how one becomes a specialist in a field such as radiology, dermatology, etc. Right now just getting in to vet school is as far as I've gotten. I assume specialists make more money, but I could be wrong. Does anyone know anything about this? Thanks!

 

[chris03333]

I was curious as to how one becomes a specialist in a field such as radiology, dermatology, etc. Right now just getting in to vet school is as far as I've gotten. I assume specialists make more money, but I could be wrong. Does anyone know anything about this? Thanks!

Internship, residency, research, publication, board examination
for respective field....

You can look up the colleges to help
radiology- American College of Veterinary Radiology
derm- American College of Veterinary Dermatology

Use google to find the respective websites

 

[LVT2DVM]

Each specialty has a Residency Training Program that specifies training criteria that must be met for certification. But like previous post said generally you apply and match for a residency (although some ie Dentistry have alternative pathways), compile documentation of cases youve managed within that specialty, publish literature, complete residency and take specialty a board examination but this is just info from my limited exposure. I would expect once you get to school they'll give you the low down,

Here are some popular ones
American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine specialties of Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Neurology, and Oncology.
http://www.acvim.org/index.aspx?id=97

American College of Veterinary Radiology
http://www.acvr.org/

American College of Veterinary Surgeons
http://www.acvs.org/

American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
http://acvecc.org/

 

[lailanni]

Are you required to publish something to specialize?

 

[chris03333]

Are you required to publish something to specialize?

yes

 

[Bill59]

Are you required to publish something to specialize?

It depends on the individual specialty. Some have a requirement for 1 or more publications but not all.

 

[Therapist4Chnge]

It depends on the individual specialty. Some have a requirement for 1 or more publications but not all.

Interesting...I never would have thought that.

 

[lailanni]

Interesting. Where can I find out the publication requirements for each specialty? I've googled, but didn't get good results. Perhaps I didn't use the right key words.

 

[chris03333]

Interesting. Where can I find out the publication requirements for each specialty? I've googled, but didn't get good results. Perhaps I didn't use the right key words.

Lailanni, publication is usually part of the residency programs (most also end in an MS or PhD). For some that may be case reports, but you will publish something before completing most if not all residencies. As for where to look, go to the respective college website, find the accredited residency programs and read the descriptions for them, or read the description of what it takes for the residency program to be accredited.

one example, radiology:
http://www.acvr.org/activities/residency_programs/essentials_of_accredited_ra.html

 

[VAgirl]

Can anyone ever sit the specialist exams (boards?) after a certain number of years experience, but without having done a residency?

Thanks!

 

[alliecat44]

With the possible exception of dentistry, it's not really possible. To even sit for the board-certification exam, you have to "submit your credentials" and those credentials have to be approved by the committee to even allow you to take the test. The required credentials include being in the final stages of an approved residency program.

I know it sounds like it's sort of a catch-22. However, this way, there's standardization in the training of specialists. Honestly, without the support of a regmented, structured residency program/caseload/case requirements/educational requirements/supervising board-certified specialists, I think it'd be darned near impossible to gain enough knowledge to even HOPE to pass the test. 🙂

 

[ri23]

I thought there were some programs (pathology maybe?) that allowed you to sit for the boards without doing an official residency program - they do mandate a certain number of hours of experience however. While this is certainly not the case for all (or even most) I think I recall reading that it is an option for some.

 

[david594]

Theriogenology seems to have an alternative route that takes 6 years where you work under a mentor who is already a diplomate ACT.

 

[FlyOnTheWall]

Alternate pathways to board certification (if available) usually take more than twice as long. Then you still have to pass a rigorous examination which is harder without the intense mentorship of a formal program. Can be done but it's harder.

 

[clawsbeatskin]

Are you required to publish something to specialize?

Zoo medicine requires 5 pubs! I better get cracking!

 

[Bill59]

Here's most of the clinical specialties:

Anesthesia

Behavior

Dermatology

Emergency Critical Care

Internal medicine Small and Large Animal IM, Neurology, Cardiology, Oncology

Lab animal

Nutrition

Ophtho

Pathology Anatomic and clinical path

Surgery SA and LA sturgeons

Radiology

Zoo

ABVP Species based specialties; Canine and Feline, Feline, Equine, Beef, Dairy, Food Animal, Swine

 

[david594]

Here is repro:

Theriogenelogy

 

[StealthDog]

I just spoke with a vet who passed boards for avian medicine without having done a residency, and she strongly recommended going into practice with a good mentor rather than learning "theories that are good for boards, but not much else." Her opinion is probably pretty limited to avian, but she said she much preferred the slower route of learning on the job rather than in academia.

 

[soxbox]

I know that it is possible to be eligible to take the boards in lab animal with 6 years experience if you choose not to go down the residency pathway (though you must still be a first author on a paper)....

you can also become a boarded veterinary practitioner (in a variety of species specific categories) with 6 years experience, of course after passing the exam... (http://www.abvp.com/index.htm)

 

[Bill59]

I just spoke with a vet who passed boards for avian medicine without having done a residency, and she strongly recommended going into practice with a good mentor rather than learning "theories that are good for boards, but not much else." Her opinion is probably pretty limited to avian, but she said she much preferred the slower route of learning on the job rather than in academia.

Avian is one of the ABVP specialites. They focus on general practice and are designed so practitioners can become boarded without doing a formal residency, although residency is also an option.

But for a lot of specialties you really can't replace 3 years of intensive training and focus overseen by one or more specialists. Far from learning only 'theory" a residency is very rigorous on-the-job training -- why do you think they're called residents? You're spending 80 hours a week or more treating the very patients you're training to treat.

You're just not going to learn to do spine surgery, eye surgery, radiation therapy, or similar skills working in a general practice, no matter how long you're there.

 

[birdvet2006]

Far from learning only 'theory" a residency is very rigorous on-the-job training -- why do you think they're called residents? You're spending 80 hours a week or more treating the very patients you're training to treat.

Unfortunately, you don't often spend 80 hours/week as an avian resident treating/seeing birds. Universities generally can't offer enough of an avian caseload - you'll find yourself treating rabbits more than anything at some universities. 🙁 Maybe at large private practices like AMC and Angell ...but last year when I applied they withdrew their position from the match (both of them!).

I'm headed down the ABVP-avian alternative pathway. Slowly but surely.