How to Become a Veterinary Specialist in Seattle

Veterinary specialists are veterinarians who have completed additional training beyond that of a regular veterinarian. Their specialties focus on particular species or fields. Veterinary specialists use specialized equipment and diagnostic procedures to obtain more defined diagnoses.
Veterinary specialists must be certified. The American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) sets requirements for board certification of specialists and issues certifications. It is part of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The AVMA is the professional association for veterinarians.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

School

1. Complete a 4-year undergraduate bachelor's degree program. The courses should emphasis science. The University of Washington and Washington State University have undergraduate pre-vet programs. Washington State University has a veterinary college along with a veterinary teaching hospital. The hospital has specialty services in the areas of cardiology, oncology, neurology, pharmacy and radiology.

2. Apply to veterinary school. Choose a school that is best for the area you are interested in, such as large or small animals. Multiple applications to numerous schools are advised because of many applicants and few openings.

3. Apply for and take board tests. These are state and national. They are a required to set up a veterinary practice in the United States.

4. Complete further training for a veterinary specialty. This includes clinical experience related to the specialty. Write articles and get published. These articles can cover a clinical case or the results of research in the specialty. Complete a credential review. Take the board examinations for the specialty.

5. Complete board certification in a veterinary specialty through a veterinary school residency program or at hospitals that are approved for a specialty. The requirements and time are dependent upon the specialty. On average, the time requirement is at least 2 years.

Career

6. Complete all board tests successfully that relate to the laws and regulations associated with a veterinary specialty practice in Washington state. The veterinary practice is limited to the certified specialty.

7. Confirm that the veterinary specialty is recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialists so it will comply with Washington state regulations. More than one specialty is possible. This is from state RCW 18.92.135: license to practice specialized veterinary medicine.

8. Apply for Washington state licensing. Submit the state-provided application form for a license based upon the veterinary specialty. The certification the state recognizes is either as a diplomat of the national specialty board or from a school the board recognizes in a particular veterinary specialty. The certification must not have any problems associated with it, such as disciplinary action in another state.

9. Obtain Seattle permits for operation of a specialty veterinary hospital practice as required under the Seattle Municipal Code Title 10, Health and Safety. If there is more than one location within Seattle, then other permits are required.

10. Set up the specialty veterinary practice in Seattle. Let other Seattle veterinarians know about your specialty.

Resources

• AVMA
• University of Washington: Veterinary Medicine
• Washington State University: College of Veterinary Medicine

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