Welcome Prospective ACVECC Residency Candidates!

In this area, one will find the resources prospective residents need to learn about pursuing a residency in veterinary emergency and critical care. 

Becoming a board certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care

Upon graduation from a college/school of veterinary medicine, one may pursue several careers as a veterinarian, typically in primary clinical practice, industry, or government. To become a board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care, one must complete additional rigorous training. Specifically, one typically needs to complete a one-year rotating internship and possibly a specialty internship followed by approved residency training program (RTP) that is typically at least three (3) years in duration.

Residencies in emergency and critical care (ECC) are designed to empower individuals with the knowledge, skills, and experience to effectively and collaboratively work in emergency rooms and intensive care units. Clinical practice and didactic education during an ECC residency covers a variety of areas:

• Patient care - Residents gain experience treating patients with a range of conditions, including shock and post-cardiac arrest. They also learn how to work in an emergency department (ED) that's never closed. 
• Procedures - Residents learn a variety of procedures, including emergency surgeries, mechanical ventilation, transfusion medicine, and extracorporeal therapies.
• Teaching - Residents develop teaching and public speaking skills by facilitating case discussions with veterinary students, interns, and residents in other RTPs, as well as presentation at veterinary conferences.
• Non-ECC Immersion - Residents receive immersive training in non-ECC specialties such as cardiology, internal medicine, and surgery to enhance their clinical expertise, allowing them to integrate knowledge from various disciplines. By developing a well-rounded skill set, they are better equipped to provide the highest level of emergency and critical care for their patients.

Residencies in veterinary ECC are approved by the American College of Veterinary Emergency Critical Care (ACVECC). They are rigorously regulated by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to ensure residents are supervised and trained by competent and motivated mentors in approved residency training programs (RTPs).

Upon completion of all established requirements of residency training, including passing a rigorous multiday certifying examination, an individual is a board-certified specialist in veterinary emergency and critical care and is called a Diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (DACVECC).