Frequently Asked Questions

  • The American College of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology is a specialty college providing advanced training and board certification in veterinary kidney and urinary medicine. There is an executive board that has been elected to help manage the ACVNU.

  • The American Board of Veterinary Nephrology and Urology is an independent organization whose purpose is to establish training standards, credential requirements, and examination for residents pursuing ACVNU training. The ABVNU has an independent board from ACVNU’s executive board.

  • There are 3 distinct pathways for acceptance into the ABVNU Residency Training:

    1. A resident candidate seeking ACVNU residency training leading to Diplomate certification must be accepted into an ABVNU-approved Residency Program, be a graduate of an accredited School or College of Veterinary Medicine, and concurrently certified by a recognized veterinary Specialty College promoting advanced clinical patientcare in a medical or surgical discipline.

    2. A resident candidate seeking ACVNU residency training leading to Affiliate Member certification must be accepted into an ABVNU-approved Residency Program, be a graduate of an accredited School or College of Veterinary Medicine, and concurrently certified by a recognized veterinary Specialty College of a non-patientcare discipline.

    3. A resident candidate seeking ACVNU residency training leading to either Diplomate or Affiliate Member certification who is not concurrently Board-Certified in a patientcare or non-patientcare discipline must be accepted into an ABVNU-approved Residency Program, be a graduate of an accredited School or College of Veterinary Medicine, and have at least four (4) full-time equivalent years of focused patient-care experience (ACVNU resident working toward Diplomate status) or a non-patient-care experience (ACVNU resident working toward Affiliate Member status) in nephrology and urology documented within 10 years of application for the residency. Full-time equivalency is the collective percentage of professional time and experience devoted to nephrology and urology. It represents categories of activity related to urinary disease including clinical effort, specialized training, research, teaching/mentoring, continuing education, advocacy, leadership, journal review, and other activities related to the discipline. A documented publication record including authorship of relevant scholarly works in nephrology and urology resulting from clinical investigations or basic research in the discipline, and documented contribution to the promotion, direction, and advancement of the specialty contribute to the full-time equivalency.

  • Small animal internal medicine and critical care training both provide a strong foundation in nephrology and urology. The ACVNU builds on this foundation and offers advanced didactic and procedural training in physiology, pathophysiology, clinical diagnostics, minimally invasive procedures, extracorporeal therapies, and more. Completing ACVNU training, a resident will have the highest level of expertise in nephrology and urology, electrolytes disorders, management of hypertension, etc. ACVNU boarded individuals may serve as the tertiary referral from other board certified colleagues to help manage difficult or refractory patients or to have advanced diagnostics and therapeutics performed.

  • As part of the application to the ABVS to develop a specialty college, individuals must designated as the Organizing Committee who become the "Founders" of the specialty. The Founders do not become Diplomates unless they pass the same certification requirements and examinations required of residents. It is very likely many of the late-career Founders will not become ACVNU Diplomates as they may retire before they are eligible to sit for ACVNU examinations.

  • No one! The bylaws of the American Board of Veterinary Specialties (ABVS) prohibits this practice. The members of the initial organizing committee are considered Founders of the ACVNU, however this does not imply diplomate status. ALL individuals are required to complete the training requirements to attain board certification.

  • There are several nephrology/urology fellowships offered where the ACVNU resident would be working at their training site. However, there are a limited number of these programs available. The ACVNU curriculum was designed to also be completed via web-based didactic training and long-distance mentorship. Residents may continue to work at their primary hospital and complete the required training via their caseload, web-based lectures, laboratories, procedural training programs, and other opportunities.

  • Successful completion and approval of all Residency Program Requirements must occur within 5 years of registration with ACVNU.

  • The founding members will create the content and build the evaluations (e.g., exams). They will use that to train the first sets of residents who will become board-certified. At some point, after we have some board-certified diplomates, so of the founders may withdraw from being content providers and exam creators, so that they can go through the curriculum as residents. Their former residents can then become their mentors! Not all the founders will become board certified, as we will need some of them to continue providing content/evaluation.

  • The American Society of Nephrology and Urology (ASVNU) is an interest group welcome to all who share interest and love for the urinary tract. Many of the founding members of the ACVNU are also longstanding members of the ASVNU- there is certainly overlap in interest. Not all ASVNU members will pursue ACVNU training, so there remains a need for an open and collaborative forum for all. The ASVNU and ACVNU may likely collaborate in shared agendas, conference training, and more. However, the ACVNU is completely independent from the ASVNU. Each organization’s bylaws and constitution are unique. ACVNU was borne from the passion and interest of ASVNU members and both organizations share common goals advancing veterinary nephrology and urology.

  • Applications are not open at this time as we continue to finalize the curriculum, confirm speakers, and plan the didactic training schedule. Keep checking this website for updates. When applications are open it will be announced on this website as well as ACVIM, ASVNU, ACVECC, and ECVIM listservs.

  • 1. Be a graduate of a college or school of veterinary medicine that is accredited by the AVMA or be legally qualified to practice veterinary medicine.

    2. Demonstrate professional behavior.

    3. Acceptance into an ABVNU Registered Residency Program

    4. Satisfactorily complete board certification in a recognized patientcare (Diplomate) or non-patientcare (Affiliate Member) specialty with certification designated as Diplomate or meet the criteria for consideration of Diplomate or Affiliate Member status as a non-Board-Certified Resident.

    5. Successful passing of all topical examination components and requirements specified in Core Curriculum.

    6. Successful passage of a comprehensive certifying examination at the completion of the Residency

    7. Documentation of required Clinical Proficiencies in Nephrology and Urology (Resident Program for Diplomate status only).

    8. Documentation of Case Management in Nephrology and Urology (Resident Program for Diplomate status only).

    9. Documentation of Didactic Learning Opportunities related to the discipline of Nephrology and Urology.

    10. Documentation of participation in a nephrology and urology orientated Journal Club.

    11. Successful submission and acceptance of a scientific manuscript in an approved journal as outlined in the Publication Requirement.

    12. Submission and acceptance of a Credentials Application.

    13. Successful completion and approval of all Residency Program Requirements within 5 years of registration with ACVNU.