ABVS seeking public comment on 2 proposed specialties

The American Board of Veterinary Specialists (ABVS) announced a call for public comments regarding two new proposed specialties. The American Board of Veterinary Acupuncture (ABVA) and the American Embryo Transfer Association (AETA) both have asked ABVS to be recognized as veterinary specialty organizations (RVSOs).

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), ABVS will be accepting comments on the proposals through August 12, 2025.¹ AVMA utilizes public comments to gauge both the distinctiveness of the proposed specialty from current recognized veterinary specialty organizations and the public need for the specialty.

Elayne/stock.adobe.com

Embryo transfer

The AETA organizing committee explained that this assisted reproductive technology is unique and a specialized field in veterinary medicine, requiring extensive training and mastery of the technical and invasive skills. In order to receive certification from AETA, individuals must pass an examination, demonstrate experience, participate in continuing education, and abide by AETA, International Embryo Technology Society, and USDA rules, including laboratory and facility inspections. AETA also pointed out that it is the organization selected by the USDA to certify individuals and companies to export embryos.

“Our high level of scientific knowledge and skills are evident in embryo collection, processing, cryopreservation, and export, a requirement to ensure biosecurity and public health safety and trust. Conventional in-vivo and in-vitro fertilized applications are invasive and require strict guidelines and attention to detail that is provided to AETA members,” according to the organizing committee’s one-page summary of the proposed specialty organization.¹

Clinical applications through AETA take place on several species. In 2023, 565,111 bovine embryos, 14,619 ovine, and 12,178 caprine were transferred into the United States.

Acupuncture

In the US, there are between 4000 and 600 veterinarians that have completed acupuncture certification through 1 of 6 organizations, Chi University, International Veterinary Acupuncture Society, CuraCore, Canine Rehabilitation Institute, Evidence-Based Veterinary Acupuncture, and College of Integrative Veterinary Therapies, according to ABVA. Out of those practitioners, 80% are working primarily with small animals, 10-20% are with equine patients, and a smaller percentage work with farm animals, exotics, zoo animals, and other species.

“Despite widespread clinical use and established training programs, veterinary acupuncture lacks formal specialty recognition. This gap limits oversight, consistency in credentialing, and advancement in education and research. The scope of acupuncture—its diagnostic methods, technical skills, and foundational physiology—is distinct from other existing specialties, and it is not encompassed within any current RVSO,” ABVA’s organizing committee said.¹

The American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture (AAVA) became a member of the AVMA House of Delegates (HOD) in 2014 but was later denied recognized as a specialty in 2016. During this time, ABVS was advising the AVMA Board of Directors on specialty petitions and the board would then approve or deny the petitions. It recommended the denial of AAVA for multiple reasons, including finding lack of scientific basis for such a specialty.

Then, earlier this year, HOD approved the “Integrative Veterinary Medicine” policy which now considers veterinary acupuncture part of alternative and complementary therapies.

Submitting a comment

The AVMA website includes the submissions from both the ABVA organizing committee and the AETA organizing committee, detailing each organization’s goals and justification for becoming a specialty. Comments should be emailed to ABVS@avma.org and must be submitted separately for each request. When submitting comments, use the following subject lines:

• For ABVA/Acupuncture: “Public comment – Acupuncture Specialty”
• For AETA/Embryo Transfer: “Public comment – Embryo Transfer Specialty”

If accepted, each organization will join the other 22 specialty organizations and 46 specialties recognized by the AVMA.²

References

1. Two proposed veterinary specialties under consideration: Acupuncture, embryo transfer. News release. American Veterinary Medical Association. May 16, 2025. Accessed May 22, 2025. https://www.avma.org/news/two-proposed-veterinary-specialties-under-consideration-acupuncture-embryo-transfer
2. American Board of Veterinary Specialties. Veterinary specialties. American Veterinary Medical Association. Accessed May 22, 2025. https://www.avma.org/education/veterinary-specialties