Specialist Qualifications

The Veterinary Council of Ireland (VCI) recognises veterinary practitioners with advanced expertise in specialised fields through the Veterinary Specialist Register. This register, established under Section 47 of the Veterinary Practice Act 2005, provides an official record of veterinary practitioners with a higher degree of skill and knowledge than general veterinary practitioners in specific specialist disciplines. Practitioners listed in this register may refer to themselves as “Veterinary Specialists” in Ireland, assuring the public of their verified advanced skills and knowledge.

What is a Veterinary Specialist?

A Veterinary Specialist is a veterinary practitioner registered with the VCI who has completed advanced training and examinations in a particular area of veterinary practice. These practitioners have usually achieved post-graduate diploma-level qualifications, recognised by European specialist institutions and entitling them to diplomat status. This qualification signifies they have received in-depth, supervised training in their specialist field, ensuring both breadth and depth of knowledge, allowing them to practice as a specialist in that area.

Purpose of the Specialist Register

The VCI maintains the Specialist Register to:

  • Provide transparency for the public and veterinary profession by identifying practitioners with specialised skills and knowledge.
  • Enable general practitioners to refer cases to recognised specialists where specialised knowledge and treatment are necessary.
  • Encourage continuing professional development within recognised specialisations to maintain high standards of veterinary care in Ireland.

Recognised Specialties and Training

The VCI recognises a range of specialties, from Veterinary Anaesthesia and Diagnostic Imaging to more specialised fields such as Zoological Medicine and Aquatic Animal Health. Entry to the register typically requires training and certification from recognised bodies, particularly through  European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS) colleges, American Specialty Colleges, and other internationally recognised institutions. Recognised specialties are listed on the VCI here, alongside the training colleges recognised to provide the requisite supervised training.

(I) The list of VCI-recognised specialties includes:

  1. Laboratory Animal Medicine
  2. Animal Reproduction
  3. Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine
  4. Aquatic Animal Health
  5. Bovine Health Management
  6. Equine Internal Medicine
  7. Porcine Health Management
  8. Poultry Veterinary Science
  9. Small Ruminant Health Management
  10. Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
  11. Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition
  12. Veterinary Clinical Pathology
  13. Veterinary Dermatology
  14. Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging
  15. Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
  16. Veterinary Internal Medicine – Companion Animals
  17. European College of Veterinary Microbiology
  18. Veterinary Neurology
  19. Veterinary Opthamology
  20. Veterinary Pathology
  21. Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology
  22. Veterinary Public Health
  23. Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
  24. Veterinary Surgery
  25. Zoological Medicine
  26. Veterinary Dentistry
  27. Veterinary Parasitology
  28. Miscellaneous (any recognised individual specialty not listed above, recognising that new specialties are developing and evolving all the time):
  29. Specialisms awarded by American Speciality Colleges,
  30. Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (Postgraduate Diplomas)
  31. Australian College of Veterinary Scientists (Fellowship)
  32. Specialisms awarded by other specialist colleges and institutions which are considered on provision of evidence of supervised training of sufficient duration and depth.

(ii) Colleges Recognised to Provide Specialist Training

  1. European College of Laboratory and Animal Medicine
  2. European College of Animal Reproduction
  3. European College of Animal Welfare and Behavioural Medicine
  4. European College of Aquatic Animal Health
  5. European College of Bovine Health Manage
  6. European College of Equine Internal Medicine
  7. European College of Porcine Health Management
  8. European College of Poultry Veterinary Science
  9. European College of Small Ruminant Health Management
  10. European College of Veterinary Anaesthesia and Analgesia
  11. European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition
  12. European College of Veterinary Clinical Pathology
  13. European College of Veterinary Dermatology
  14. European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging
  15. European College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care
  16. European College of Veterinary of Internal Medicine – Companion Animals
  17. European College of Veterinary Microbiology
  18. European College of Veterinary Neurology
  19. European College of Veterinary Opthamologists
  20. European College of Veterinary Pathologists
  21. European College of Veterinary Pharmacology and Toxicology
  22. European College of Veterinary Public Health
  23. European College of Veterinary Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation
  24. European College of Veterinary Surgeons
  25. European College of Zoological Medicine
  26. European Veterinary Dental College
  27. European Veterinary Parasitology College
  28. Additional Specialist Colleges:
  29. a) American Speciality Colleges,
  30. b) Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (Postgraduate Diplomas)
  31. c) Australian College of Veterinary Scientists (Fellowship)
  32. d) Qualifications from other specialist colleges and institutions which are considered on provision of evidence of supervised training of sufficient duration and depth. In these cases, the training programme must include while not limited to evidence of scholarship, including preparation of case reports, presentations at national and international scientific meetings, completion of research projects related to the discipline, and publication of manuscripts in peer reviewed journals, character references and any other information relevant in the context of the application.

 

Applying for Specialist Registration

Veterinary practitioners interested in obtaining specialist status in Ireland must apply to the VCI with:

  1. Application Form: Available upon request from the VCI by contacting education@vci.ie.
  2. Certified Qualifications: Evidence of post-graduate qualifications from recognised institutions.
  3. Registration with a Specialist Board: Verification of their status with an international specialist board (e.g., EBVS or equivalent).
  4. Supporting Documentation: Including a comprehensive CV detailing relevant experience, publications, presentations, and research projects in their specialty.

Applicants who have not completed training with EBVS or other recognised colleges may still apply, but they must provide additional documentation, including proof of equivalent supervised training, case reports, and peer-reviewed publications in their specialty.

Registration Fees and Application Process

A fee applies for the Specialist Registration application. To begin the application, candidates can contact the VCI at education@vci.ie, where further guidance is provided. Applicants can also access the Specialist Registration Information Booklet. The booklet outlines the legal requirements, recognised specialties, and the list of approved institutions and provides step-by-step instructions for completing the application.

Transparency and Verification

The names and VCI Registration Numbers of registered specialists are available on the VCI website HERE . Only practitioners listed here are entitled to use the title “Veterinary Specialist,” ensuring the public can confidently seek specialised care for animals from qualified professionals. For any updates or questions about specialist registration, the VCI encourages practitioners and members of the public to contact the VCI office team directly.

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