Dr Ruth Cawston MA VetMB CertAVP (SAM) MRCVS
If you are a vet with a passion for neurology, you might be considering taking your interest further and making this your whole career.
Why not register with The Vet Service and explore your options? If you are not yet a veterinary specialist, we provide a range of options, including graduate vet jobs.
Veterinary Neurology is a fascinating field which allows you to learn many advanced skills, both medical and surgical. So, how do you become a Veterinary Neurologist?
Who Certifies Veterinary Neurologists?
To call yourself a veterinary neurology specialist in the UK, you must hold a diploma that is approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS). You must also meet certain other requirements, too.
There are two main internationally recognised bodies that award diplomas to veterinary neurologists, both of which are recognised by the RCVS. These are:
- The European College of Veterinary Neurology (ECVN)
- The American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM), a broad college that includes neurologists.
Both colleges issue requirements for residency training programs and set the formal examinations that trainee neurologists must pass.
Routes To Specialisation in Veterinary Neurology
There are several different routes that you can follow to become a specialist in veterinary neurology. The most common route is to do one or more internships, followed by a residency. However, this is not the only option.
Internships
An “internship” is a training program designed for vets who are considering working in referral practice, or who want to broaden their general knowledge of the specialist disciplines. They are run by larger specialist centres or universities and usually last for one year.
In small animal practice, there are two different common types of internships:
- A traditional internship often called a “rotating internship”, will offer the chance to work in the various different departments in a specialist centre (such as surgery, internal medicine, anaesthesia, imaging, and so on).
- A specialised internship, which offers the chance to work in a single department for the year. These are often completed after a rotating internship but before a residency.
Internships also exist for farm animals and equine practice. Neurology residencies do include training in these species, but the courses are based in small animal facilities. Farm or equine internships are usually not considered substitutes for a small animal one.
Completion of a rotating internship is not a strict requirement to gain a residency in Veterinary Neurology – both the ECVN and ACVIM will allow vets to embark on a residency without one, as long as they have suitable experience in general small animal practice. Specialist internships are also not required but may help candidates to stand out when applying.
Residencies
Most Veterinary Neurologists train through a traditional residency program. These are offered by larger referral centres and universities that are accredited by the ECVN or ACVIM. These institutions have large, multi-disciplinary teams that are equipped with specialised facilities such as high-level surgical suites, intensive care units and advanced imaging (for example, CT and MRI scanners). This means that they can take on much more complex cases and provide a great environment for budding neurologists to train.
Most residencies will last for three years, though in some circumstances they can be extended. Residencies tend to be quite intensive, requiring long hours in the clinic, on-call duties, journal discussion sessions and active research in the field. Pay varies between hospitals but is generally less than the salary for a vet of equivalent experience working in small animal first opinion practice.
Alternative Routes
Both the ECVN and the ACVIM theoretically offer “alternative or “non-traditional” routes to specialisation. This allows a residency to be completed over a longer period of time and does not require the resident to work in a referral centre for the whole duration. However, this route is not widely used by trainee neurologists.
The ECVN only allows alternative residencies to be completed in specific circumstances. Their guidance states that only “…candidate[s] whose circumstances do not permit enrolment in a standard programme…” will be allowed to complete an alternative residency program.
Part-Time or Flexible Options
The regulations set down by the ECVN and ACVIM do theoretically allow for part-time residencies. However, in practice this is uncommon, and virtually all residencies are advertised as full-time positions only. Anyone who needs to work less than full time (for example, due to caring responsibilities or personal ill health) may currently be forced to consider alternative routes to further their clinical knowledge.
Examinations
In order to become specialists, all trainee neurologists must pass formal examinations on the subject. The ACVIM requires two examinations – the “general” examination, which can be completed during the residency, and the “speciality” examination, which must be completed afterwards. The ECVN only requires one exam – called the “certifying” examination – which must be completed after the residency has ended.
Internships also exist for farm animals and equine practice. Neurology residencies do include training in these species, but the courses are based in small animal facilities. Farm or equine internships are usually not considered substitutes for a small animal one.
Completion of a rotating internship is not a strict requirement to gain a residency in Veterinary Neurology – both the ECVN and ACVIM will allow vets to embark on a residency without one, as long as they have suitable experience in general small animal practice. Specialist internships are also not required but may help candidates to stand out when applying.
Alternatives To Specialisation
Some vets with an interest in neurology may decide that specialisation is not the right choice for them. In this case, there are some other options to consider.
Many first-opinion vets wishing to advance their knowledge will undertake a certificate in the relevant area. Unfortunately, there is not currently a formal Certificate of Advanced Veterinary Practice (CertAVP) course available in neurology, and it is not one of the designations available for RCVS Advanced Practitioners.
However, neurology is one of the topics covered for the CertAVP courses in Small Animal Medicine, including the designated Canine and Feline versions. Vets who are interested in neurology but who wish to gain a formal qualification could consider undertaking one of these courses.
Alternatively, vets may choose to focus their Veterinary CPD in the field of neurology. Being more knowledgeable in this area may allow them to take on more complex cases in first-opinion practice, or to help those who cannot seek specialist advice for practical or financial reasons.
Conclusion
Becoming a specialist in veterinary neurology is not an easy path. Competition for internships and residencies can be fierce, and the positions themselves often involve long hours and lower pay than are available in first-opinion practice. However, it also offers the opportunity to work in advanced facilities and treat complex patients. If you are considering a career in veterinary neurology, why not reach out to your local specialist centre and see if you can spend some time shadowing their team to find out if it’s the right choice for you.
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