The short answer

EBVS, the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation, is the organisation that sets and upholds the standards for veterinary specialist training and certification across Europe. If you want to become a recognised veterinary specialist in Europe, EBVS is the body that ultimately underpins that recognition.

What EBVS is not

EBVS does not train specialists directly, run examinations, or award diplomas. That is the role of the individual specialist Colleges. What EBVS does is recognise those Colleges, set the standards they must meet, and provide the governance framework within which they operate.

What EBVS actually does

Recognition and quality assurance To be an EBVS-recognised College, a College must demonstrate that its training programmes, examination processes, and governance structures meet defined standards. Colleges are evaluated at recognition and reviewed every five years thereafter.

Protecting the European Veterinary Specialist title The EBVS® European Veterinary Specialist title is a protected designation. EBVS maintains the public register of specialists entitled to use it and sets the rules around its use. This register is freely searchable, allowing referring vets, animal owners, and employers to verify specialist status.

Setting the policy framework The EBVS Policies and Procedures define the rules that all recognised Colleges must follow, covering residency programme requirements, examination standards, appeals processes, and re-certification.

Shared services for Colleges EBVS provides a range of central services that individual Colleges draw on. These include an assessment platform and educational support delivered through the Director of Education, promotional and communications activity through the Communications Officer, and website hosting for a number of Colleges. These shared functions mean that smaller Colleges can access professional infrastructure that would be difficult to sustain independently.

Leadership and a collective voice Day-to-day organisational leadership is provided by the EBVS Chief Executive. Externally, EBVS represents veterinary specialisation in engagements with European institutions, veterinary regulators, and other professional bodies.

How EBVS relates to the Colleges

EBVS is the accrediting and standard-setting body. The Colleges are the specialist organisations that deliver training and certification within those standards. Your relationship as a resident or Diplomate is primarily with your College. EBVS operates in the background, but the standards it sets and the services it provides shape everything your College does.

Who runs EBVS

EBVS is governed by a Board made up of representatives from each recognised College, and an elected Executive Committee that handles strategic leadership. The Board meets annually at the General Assembly, which is the primary decision-making forum for the organisation.

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