Volunteering

ABVP Volunteer Opportunities

ABVP depends on Diplomates to keep the organization moving forward, and more than 50% of Diplomates are actively involved in ABVP. Many serve on committees. Many mentor potential Diplomates. Others write questions for examination. Volunteer opportunities are numerous. Won't you volunteer for one of the important jobs below?

Please complete the volunteer form online.

SERVING ON A STUDY GROUP

Study groups are offered by ABVP to assist students, graduates, and practicing veterinarians work their way towards board certification.  There are student study groups and practitioner study groups.  Each group is led by Diplomates and focuses on either the credentials process and case reports or studying for the exam.  If you have previous experience as a case report reviewer or are interested in assisting those studying for the exam, your help is appreciated.

REVIEWING CASE REPORTS

As ABVP grows, so too does our need for Diplomates to serve on the Credentials Committee as case report reviewers.  This involves several hours of time between February 1 and March 15. Reviewers read case reports (without knowledge of the authors), score reports (with instruments supplied by ABVP), write comments about the reports, and forward them to the Credentials Vice Chair of the appropriate practice category. No reviewer should have to read more than eight case reports. If possible, a three year commitment is requested.

WRITING EXAM ITEMS

ABVP is only as good as the examinations it gives. ABVP needs to build the item bank for all examinations in all practice categories. The more items in the bank, the better the exam and the more frequently exams can be scrambled, changed and updated. ABVP supplies forms and information about how to write questions. If each Diplomate wrote three questions, ABVP would add 1,800+ questions to the item bank!

VOLUNTEERING AT EXHIBIT BOOTHS

Do you ever attend major veterinary conferences like AAHA, ACVIM, NAVC or WVC? If so, we are always looking for volunteers to answer questions and speak with potential applicants at our booth during exhibit hall breaks. We only need an hour or two of your time and you’ll have a great experience recruiting others to your specialty board.

PRESENTING CERTIFICATION WORKSHOPS

ABVP holds certification workshops at most major veterinary meetings. These informational sessions are designed to educate attendees about ABVP certification and provide an overview of the credentialing and examination process. Diplomates are given a Power Point presentation to follow, but they should also be familiar enough with the credentialing process to answer a variety questions from potential applicants.

SERVING ON A COMMITTEE

ABVP is always seeking new leaders to serve on the CE & Outreach, Residency, Credentials, and Examination Committees. In addition, the Council of Regents often appoints ad hoc committees to work on specific projects. Whatever your interest, there is likely an ABVP committee for you.

REVIEWING EXAMINATION ITEMS

Examination items written and submitted for recertification must be reviewed by a team of two Diplomates trained in item writing. The review process takes place annually in the spring. Reviewers check items for accuracy and clarity, scoring them as acceptable or unacceptable. Training is provided at the ABVP Symposium and online once a year in the fall.

HELPING WITH SYMPOSIUM/CONTINUING EDUCATION

ABVP provides certification level CE at its annual Symposium and offers CE tracks at numerous national, regional, and species specific meetings. Help the CE and Outreach Committee plan ABVP's top notch programming.

FOSTERING STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS

The future of ABVP lies with veterinary students. Many of these students are interested in species specific specialization but need to know more about ABVP and what it means to be a Diplomate. If you are willing to speak to veterinary students about ABVP, be a contact for a veterinary school, offer externships, lead a study group, or connect with students in other ways then this is for you.