Emergency & Critical Care

A specialist in large animal emergency critical care is a specially trained veterinarian dedicated to treating life-threatening conditions. Board certification requires extensive additional training, which strongly influences the veterinarian's expertise in treating patients.

• First complete a residency program in large animal surgery, medicine, or anesthesia. Following completion of a residency, board certification in the specialty is obtained by passing a comprehensive examination given by the specialty college (ACVS, ACVIM, or ACVAA).
• After completion of the residency, the prospective specialist will receive a minimum (or equivalent) of two to three additional years of intense training in emergency, surgery and critical care through completion of an American College of Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care (ACVECC)-approved training program.
• Once the veterinarian has completed these years of specialty residency training, the individual must then pass a rigorous board -certification examination given by the ACVECC.

Upon successful completion of the training and passing of the examination, the veterinarian is a Diplomate of the ACVECC, is termed a “specialist” in emergency critical care, or a "criticalist", and is board-certified in veterinary emergency and critical care.

Interested in applying for a fellowship in Emergency Critical & Care?

Learn more about our program here...