If I wanted to become recognised as a specialist in a chosen field of veterinary business in order that members of the public searching for expertise could find me and that in turn I might be able to assist them with their specific animal problems, what would my choices be?

If I go to RCVS.org.uk and look at the certificate in advanced veterinary practice (CertAVP) then I get this link: This tells me that I can get a certificate in advanced veterinary practice; I would then naturally make the assumption that this would enable me to hold myself out as some kind of specialist in my field. I suppose it provides some recognition of achievement, however, it does not tell me that I can call myself a specialist.

If I go to the "Recognised Specialists" section of the RCVS website today this tells me:

"RCVS Recognised Specialist status is not easily achieved [how true this is read on]. To be included on the List of Recognised Specialists, an individual must have achieved a postgraduate qualification at least at Diploma level, and must additionally satisfy the RCVS that they make an active contribution to their specialty, have national and international acclaim and publish widely in their field. A Recognised Specialist must also be available for referral by other veterinary colleagues."


Hmm..."national and international acclaim".....My suspicion would be that those bits of the RCVS website were written by people who felt that they themselves had "...made an active contribution to their specialty, have national and international acclaim and publish widely in their field."

OK then...so if I wanted to be recognised as a specialist today then I need a diploma. If I go to the diploma section of RCVS.org.uk here that tells me, quote:

" Enrolment for the RCVS Diplomas is no longer available. Prospective candidates are advised to enrol onto the equivalent European Diploma....A Diploma holder is someone who has achieved a high standard of academic and professional expertise in their chosen subject, and is therefore entitled to place the appropriate letters after their name to indicate this achievement. A list of RCVS Diploma holders across all subjects is included in the back of the RCVS Register of Members and RCVS Directory of Veterinary Practices, and can also be downloaded from the Related Documents area. Diploma holders who are available for referrals may apply for inclusion on the List of RCVS Recognised Specialists."

If I hit the "European Diploma" link this takes me to the "European Board of Veterinary Specialisation" however the page it takes me to says "Opps you have found an error" and gives me a picture saying "The page has mooved! Try an udder."

According to what it says on RCVS.org.uk today you have to have at least a diploma....so I guess CertAVP just doesn't cut it.

Now I guess I could start trawling the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation site to see how I get to have a diploma but if were a member of the public needing say a specialist in ophthalmology, or a specialist in some other sphere of veterinary life I suspect I'm not going to bother getting this far. If someone hasn't gone to the effort of making it easy to find what I want I'll probably look somewhere else. So recognition by the RCVS as a specialist is probably not very relevant.

And as for trying to become an RCVS Recognised Specialist today...it would appear likely that you cannot be one, unless you are one of the old guard who has already done it.