For the first time, vets working in companion animal practice now have a formal pathway to specialist recognition. At their recent general assembly in Zagreb, the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS) granted provisional approval to the European College of Veterinary Primary Care – Companion Animals (ECVPC-CA), marking a major shift in how primary care is perceived and structured across Europe.
Addressing a key gap
This long-anticipated development addresses a key gap in the profession. While most veterinarians work in first-opinion practice, career progression beyond certificate-level qualifications has remained limited. The lack of recognition and routes for progression has been identified as a major factor impacting retention within the profession, the EBVS notes in its press release. The new College introduces a structured route to European Diplomate status, with training pathways – residency, modular programmes, and a flexible practitioner route – designed to reflect the diversity of clinical practice. Depending on the pathway, the process is expected to take between 4 and 7 years.
Recognising the complexity of general practice
At the core of the College is a competency-based framework tailored specifically to primary care. Rather than focusing on individual disciplines, it defines expertise in managing multi-morbid patients, ensuring continuity of care, and making clinical decisions under uncertainty. For Denis Novak (Serbia), one of the founding architects of the ECVPC-CA, this recognition is overdue: ‘The provisional approval of the European College of Veterinary Primary Care is a landmark event. It finally defines what it means to be a specialist generalist, distinct from discipline-specific expertise.’ Other founding members of the college include Stephan Neumann (Germany), Jill Maddison (UK), Adam Tjolle (UK) et Vassiliko Stathopulou (Greece).
A strategic decision for the profession
The EBVS decision follows extensive review and debate, reflecting both the opportunities and responsibilities associated with this new pathway. Raphaël Guatteo, newly elected President of EBVS, emphasises the significance of this step: ‘This opens the way for recognition of primary care specialisation for companion animals. This is only the beginning – the path to full recognition will be demanding.’ Indeed, the College is entering a structured development phase, with full accreditation expected over approximately ten years. During this period, training programmes, assessment systems and governance structures will be progressively established.
'A milestone for the profession'
A specialty for general practice? Not a contradiction, according to the EBVS president. ‘In human medicine, general practice is already considered a specialty in many countries, and in the UK, two veterinary schools (London and Edinburgh) already have a Chair in general practice.’ And specialist colleges focusing on the health management of specific species already exist in Europe, just not for companion animals – until now.
Beyond institutional change, the recognition of primary care resonates strongly with the profession at large. Ann Criel, Fecava President and UEVP Vice-President, stresses that the development ‘is a milestone for the veterinary profession, in particular those working in first-line companion animal practice’ and ‘an acknowledgement of the crucial role that general practitioners play in animal health, welfare and client relationships.’
(photo ©Getty images/Unsplash)