Becoming a veterinary specialist requires completion of veterinary school, further study, internships, and board certification. High grades, experience, and letters of recommendation are important for admission to specialty programs. Residency training and board testing are required for accreditation as an expert in a veterinary discipline.
A veterinary specialist is a licensed veterinarian with additional training in a specific area of animal medicine or with a specific species of animal. In the United States, there are 20 specialized organizations recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association, including those for specialists in radiology, pathology, emergency medicine and other areas. To become a veterinary specialist, completion of veterinary school is required, followed by further study and usually internships and residencies in the specialty area. Typically, exams are required to gain board certification in the specialty area.
Getting accepted into veterinary school can be difficult. Exhibiting a high level of achievement in pre-vet courses and other courses during your undergraduate degree will help you get accepted into a school and ultimately become a veterinary specialist. Interning, volunteering, or working with animals in a job, such as that of a veterinary assistant or aide, can help put you ahead of the competition when looking to get into a school. Letters of recommendation from professors and employment supervisors are also expected as part of the admissions process, and most veterinary schools require entrance tests.
During veterinary school, you can gain experience in different specialist areas by undertaking external internships. External internships are usually short programs that give you some experience in the specialist profession and help you decide in which area you want to become a veterinary specialist. If you are interested in working with non-domestic animals, for example, you can gain experience by applying for off-site internships at zoos and other facilities that have collections of wild animals.
After completing veterinary school, taking your board exams, and becoming licensed as a doctor of veterinary medicine, you have a few options for becoming a veterinary specialist. You can go into practice and gain some experience as a veterinarian or immediately enroll in a veterinary specialty program. Requirements for admission to veterinary specialty programs will vary, but high grades in veterinary school and previous experience in the specialty area or with the animal species are generally required.
Specialized veterinary education usually involves completion of a rigorous residency training program that has been approved by the specialized government organization. Training requirements and duration vary between specialist programs. Upon completion of training, accreditation may involve reviews of your published research papers, your resume and background, your letters of recommendation and other items, followed by board testing. Once you successfully complete your board tests, you will be recognized as an expert in your veterinary discipline.
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