A veterinary specialist is a veterinarian who specializes in a clinical field of veterinary medicine.
Most specialties require a 1-year internship or 2 years of clinical practice prior to beginning a residency of 3–4 years' duration. Most specialties require the resident to produce some academic contribution (often in the form of a scientific publication) in order to qualify to sit the certifying examination. Admission or entry into a Veterinary Specialty residency program is quite competitive in the United States and Canada. A veterinarian needs to complete a 1 year internship or, for some residency programs, have 2 years of clinical experience. A Veterinary Specialist may be consulted when an animal’s condition requires specialized care above and beyond that which a regular veterinarian can offer. Many Veterinary Specialists require a referral in order to be seen. After treatment, a Veterinary Specialist may stay in close contact with the referring veterinarian to provide ongoing treatment suggestions and advice. Veterinary specialists may earn 2-3 times more than general practice veterinarians.
AnaesthesiologyAnimal behaviorAnimal welfareBirds (pet and ornamental)BovineCanineCardiologyClinical pathologyClinical pharmacologyDentistryDermatology (veterinary dermatology)Diagnostic imaging (diagnostic imaging of animals)EquineEmergency and critical care (veterinary intensive care and veterinary emergency medicine)FelineInternal medicineLaboratory animal medicineMicrobiology (veterinary microbiology; clinical microbiology of animals)Neurology and neurosurgery (veterinary neurology; veterinary neurosurgery)NutritionOncology (cancer in animals)Ophthalmology (veterinary ophthalmology)ParasitologyPathology (veterinary pathology)PoultryPreventive medicineRadiology (veterinary radiology)Reptile and amphibianShelter medicineSports medicineSurgeryTheriogenologyToxicologyZoological medicine (includes zoo, wildlife, aquatics, and exotic pet species)"A veterinary specialist, as recognized by the AVMA, is a graduate veterinarian who has successfully completed the process of board certification in an AVMA-recognized veterinary specialty organization (ie, board or college). To become board certified, a veterinarian must have extensive post-graduate training and experience and a credential review and examinations set by the given specialty organization." [1]
The American Veterinary Medical Association recognizes the following 21 veterinary specialty organizations:
American Board of Veterinary PractitionersAmerican Board of Veterinary ToxicologyAmerican College of Laboratory Animal MedicineAmerican College of Poultry VeterinariansAmerican College of TheriogenologistsAmerican College of Veterinary Anesthesia and AnalgesiaAmerican College of Veterinary BehavioristsAmerican College of Veterinary Clinical PharmacologyAmerican College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and RehabilitationAmerican College of Veterinary DermatologyAmerican College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical CareAmerican College of Veterinary Internal MedicineAmerican College of Veterinary MicrobiologistsAmerican College of Veterinary NutritionAmerican College of Veterinary OphthalmologistsAmerican College of Veterinary PathologistsAmerican College of Veterinary Preventive MedicineAmerican College of Veterinary RadiologyAmerican College of Veterinary SurgeonsAmerican College of Zoological MedicineAmerican Veterinary Dental CollegeProposed Specialty Organizations
American College of Animal WelfareAmerican College of Veterinary ParasitologistsThe European Board of Veterinary Specialisation recognizes the following 23 veterinary specialty organizations:
European College of Zoological MedicineEuropean College of Animal ReproductionEuropean College of Bovine Health ManagementEuropean College of Equine Internal MedicineEuropean College of Laboratory Animal MedicineEuropean College of Porcine Health ManagementEuropean College of Poultry Veterinary MedicineEuropean College of Small Ruminant Health ManagementEuropean College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and AnalgesiaEuropean College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural MedicineEuropean College of Veterinary Comparative NutritionEuropean College of Veterinary Clinical PathologyEuropean College of Veterinary DermatologyEuropean College of Veterinary Diagnostic ImagingEuropean College of Veterinary Internal Medicine - Companion AnimalsEuropean College of Veterinary NeurologyEuropean College of Veterinary OphthalmologistsEuropean College of Veterinary PathologyEuropean College of Veterinary Public HealthEuropean College of Veterinary Pharmacology and ToxicologyEuropean College of Veterinary SurgeonsEuropean Veterinary Dentistry CollegeEuropean Veterinary Parasitology College 