As the largest veterinary specialty organization in North America, the ACVIM seeks to enhance animal and human health by advancing veterinary internal medicine through the Board-certification of veterinary specialists.
Our specialists, called Diplomates, undergo considerable post-graduate training beyond the six to eight years of college education normally required to earn a veterinary degree. This post-graduate training includes an internship, residency and documented clinical experience that lays the groundwork for a Candidate to become Board-certified.
1. Requirements to be accepted into an ACVIM approved RTP:
For more information on Candidate Prerequisites, contact Certification@ACVIM.org.
2. Understand Residency Training Programs options and current minimum requirements.
3. Explore upcoming ACVIM approved Residency Training Program opportunities.
4. Register as a Candidate of the ACVIM within 90 days of starting an RTP.
Once in an approved residency training program (RTP), residents must register with the ACVIM within 90 days of beginning their RTP (e.g., by October 1 for programs beginning on July 1). The purpose of registration is to ensure that a candidate embarks on a training program that conforms to the requirements of the specialty in which he or she wishes to become certified. Failure to register, or registration after the 90-day deadline, may jeopardize the resident's certification process, as some of the training program may not be recognized or accepted. In 2016 a program of Maintenance of Credentials (MOC) became effective for new Diplomates. Please see section 4.K of the Certification Manual (CM) for additional information.
The Certification Manual (CM) contains procedures and guidelines for individuals interested in certification by the ³Ô¹Ï±¬ÁÏ (ACVIM) specialties of Internal Medicine, Cardiology, Neurology, Nutrition and Oncology. Each candidate must fulfill the requirements outlined in the CM edition in effect at the time he/she registered with the ACVIM office at the beginning of his/her training program.