The Constitution of the European College of Veterinary Dermatology (ECVD; the College) allows for the admission of persons who have not passed its Diploma Examination. Specifically, Article 4, Section 3 states:

“To qualify for membership, candidates shall meet the following criteria: have successfully passed the certifying/examination procedure of the European College of Veterinary Dermatology, unless exempted of this obligation by the Credentials Committee”. At the ECVD’s 23rd Board Meeting on 3rd September 2003 in Tenerife, Spain, it was proposed that people of equivalent Diplomate status to those of the European College might be admitted to the College if satisfying certain criteria, and if this proposal was to be approved by the European Board of Specialization (EBVS). Subsequently, in an extract from an EBVS Document dated 16 February 2004, EBVS stated the following: 

Non-European Diplomates

This was first discussed at the 1999 Annual Meeting and Addendum A was added to the EBVS Policies and Procedures. “Explanatory Statement on Non-Europeans" The EBVS has discussed in the 1999 Annual Meeting the question of eligibility to be a diplomate of a College with regard to nationality and location of an applicant. The following guidelines were approved: Credentials and activity in the College are more important than place of residence. The nationality of an applicant is not relevant. However, Colleges may restrict membership to those who have a connection to Europe, by requiring that the applicant be licensed or be eligible to be licensed to practice in a European country, and that its diplomates attend the College’s annual meetings regularly or in other ways contribute to the aims of the College”. This topic was also discussed at the 2002 Annual Meeting. This topic was further discussed at the 2003 Annual Meeting. Section 12 states: “EBVS accepts non-European veterinarians as residents and Diplomates on the condition that they meet all other EBVS criteria and that their veterinary degree is fully equivalent to a European degree”. Therefore, it is up to the individual EBVS colleges to decide whether or not to accept a non-European resident or Diplomate, based on their qualifications.

Subsequent to this ruling by EBVS, the ECVD Board decided that Diplomates of other Veterinary Colleges of Dermatology may be considered for admittance to Full Diplomate status of the ECVD, subject to satisfaction of certain criteria and conditions.

Colleges to be Considered

Currently, applications will only be considered from Diplomates of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology, Fellows in Veterinary Dermatology (all species) of the Australia and New Zealand College of Veterinary Scientists (ANZCVS). However, other qualifications may be considered and approved in the future.

Requirements for Consideration

The applicant must be licensed or eligible to be licensed to practice in a European country. Furthermore, persons for consideration must be resident and working for the foreseeable future in a European country.

Application Procedure

Informal requests for information should be addressed to the Chair of the Credentials Committee. A formal application should then be e-mailed to the Chair of the Credentials Committee and should comprise the following: 

a) Proof that the applicant is a Diplomate or equivalent of an approved College; 

b) Proof that the applicant is resident and working in a permanent position in a European country and satisfies all the criteria of “Full Diplomate” (as defined in the Constitution); 

c) One copy of the applicant’s C.V.; 

d) A fee of 300 Euros for consideration of the application on the ECVD Bank account. This sum is non-refundable if the application is rejected.

The ECVD bank account is the following:

ECVD BankING Luxembourg
Agence Weiswampach
21, Gruuss-Strooss
L-9991 WEISWAMPACH

Account number: 1759717300000
Account name: E.C.V.D. ASBL
IBAN: LU88 0141 7597 1730 0000
Bank BIC Code: CELLLULL

 In case of problems with the bank transfer you may contact the ECVD Treasurer.

Applications must be received by 31 December each year. The Diplomate will be welcomed to the College during the ECVD AGM in September, the following year. No exceptions will be made to this date. 

The application is considered by the members of the Credentials Committee. Rejection is solely the decision of the Credentials Committee. Normally, recommendation by the Credentials Committee will imply unanimous agreement of its members on the application. The decision of the Committee will be presented to the ECVD Board of the College for ratification. The Chair informs the ECVD President via e-mail, recommending acceptance of the Diplomate to the ECVD and the President informs the Diplomate after acceptance also via e-mail. The webmaster updates the website by adding the new college member. Membership of the College will begin at the next Annual General Meeting of the College, to which the new member will be invited. Payment of College dues will not begin until the beginning of the next College year, i.e. the following   January 1^st (the College year running from 1 January to 31 December). Re-certification will be due by the end of the 5^thyear after the first payment of the college fee. Members by this route will have all the rights and responsibilities of other Diplomates of the College, as defined in the College’s Constitution and By-laws.

Membership Rights and Responsibilities

Members by this route will have all the rights and responsibilities of other Diplomates of the College, as defined in the College’s Constitution and By-laws.