ATTENTION: Board-Certified Specialists
Are you a Diplomate of a specialty college recognized by either the ABVS (American Board of Veterinary Specialties) or the EBVS (European Board of Veterinary Specialists)? If so, have you registered your specialty with the CVBC?
Why does it matter?
Well, we know how much work and passion you put into achieving your post-graduate qualification, and want to be sure that your accomplishments and your specialized skills, experience and knowledge are appropriately recognized by the CVBC, your colleagues and the public!
To protect the BC public and to respect the significance of the “specialist” title, the CVBC’s bylaws (Part 4, section 239) prohibit a veterinarian from referring to themselves as a specialist (or implying that they are one) unless their specialist credentials have been documented with the CVBC.
The bylaws (Part 4, section 238) also prohibit a veterinarian from claiming (expressly or by inference) that they have knowledge or ability that is superior to other veterinarians, unless the veterinarian is using their specialty title/describing their practice as a specialist and has had their specialty status properly registered with the CVBC.
So, it’s important to ensure that your hard-earned credentials are recognized by the CVBC because:
You deserve to advertise your status to the BC public,
and
Members of the BC public, as well as your colleagues, who are looking for a specialist or are wanting to confirm a veterinarian’s specialist qualifications should be able to rely upon the CVBC’s Online Registry as a resource and point for verification.
How can you know if your specialist credentials are registered with the CVBC or not?
Quick way to check:
Look up your name in the CVBC Online Registry – if you have your specialty status registered with the CVBC, it will appear under “Specialty” in your entry in the registry.
What do you do if your specialty isn’t noted in the registry?
In order to officially recognize your specialist status, the CVBC requires verification of:
- your specialist credentials, and
- your current standing with your specialty college
The simplest way to provide both of these requirements is to ask your certifying college to provide a letter directly to the CVBC (registration@cvbc.ca) detailing the specifics of your specialty designation (area of specialty, credentials awarded, year achieved) and confirming that you are a current member in good standing.
Alternatively, you could provide a copy of your Diploma as proof of your credentials, but we’ll still need a letter from your College confirming your current standing as a Diplomate.
**If you believe that you have already registered your specialist status with the CVBC but don’t see it reflected in the online registry, please reach out to the office (registration@cvbc.ca) and we can investigate.
