The Alternate Route (AR) residency to the AiCVD Diploma examination is designed to allow those individuals, who cannot enroll in a Formalized or Individualized Residency Program, to start a training program and sit the AiCVD Diploma examination.
 The AR residency implies part-time tuition, training and case exposure in institutions different to the candidate’s clinic/practice under the responsibility of an AiCVD Diplomate or equivalent figure.

 An AR must spend a minimum of 250 days of observation and supervised study in the training institution and must have primary involvement with clinical cases for more than 50% of the approved training time. AR residents must provide an annual progress report and credentials at the end of their residency, to be able to sit the Diploma examination. These include a case log, an activity log, a presentation log, a case book with detailed description of two cases and two publications in peer reviewed journals.
 Alternate route programmes must be presented to and approved by the Education Committee before the programme start.

THE ALTERNATE ROUTE RESIDENCY PROGRAMME DESCRIPTION

The Institutions

 The training periods should be conducted at veterinary schools or other institutions under the direct supervision of a Diplomate of Asian, European, American or Australian in Veterinary Dermatology or Pathology (for the dermatopathology training). The institution must supply adequate space, facilities and have sufficient cases guaranteed during the Candidate's stay. Cooperation in the training process with the other institutions or clinics (including medical dermatology departments) is allowed. The institution must provide all equipment required for the examination, diagnosis and management of patients. A complete medical record must be maintained for each case and these records must be retrievable.

The Candidate's Advisors

The training at a recognized facility must be under the direct supervision of a Candidate Advisor (one for each institution), who is responsible for the direction and the evaluation of the Candidate during his/her stay at the institution. The Advisor should write a proposal of the training period prior to the Candidate's registration, fill in the yearly progress report and a final evaluation of the Candidate's training.

The Candidate

The Candidate wishing to perform an alternate route to specialization must:
- be a veterinary graduate - have a license in veterinary medicine
- have completed a minimum of 1 year recognized general clinical training programme or satisfactory practice equivalent
- have a satisfactory moral and ethical standing in the profession and the community
- Clinical dermatology, dermatopathology and dermatological research

Clinical dermatology

The clinical and dermatopathological training periods must total at least 250 days. D

irect supervision is a fundamental requirement for AR, however, distance learning by a weekly report via e-mails and/or skype/facetime should not exceed 125 days. The Candidate should spend at least 50% of his/her time dealing with dermatology.
H owever, it is advised that 25% of the total time should not be spent in clinical setting but should be devoted to academic development and/or research.
Clinical training includes time spent taking histories, examining animals, carrying out diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, reviewing diagnostic material, liaising with veterinarians and owners and contributing to rounds.

The Candidate must have primary responsibility of at least 500 patients and 750 re-evaluations seen under supervision. The Candidate may be considered to be the primary clinician when that individual can demonstrate a significant role in all of the following: history taking, physical examination, determination of the diagnosis including appropriate diagnostic tests, selection and administration of appropriate therapy and sufficient follow up. A case log must be maintained for these patients.

Dermatohistopathology

A histopathological study period is strongly advised, for a minimum of 15 days of the total study period. The training requirements are the same as for the Standard Residency program. The Candidate is expected to review his/her own cases

Dermatological Research

A Candidate must conduct and complete a research project of veterinary dermatology. The Candidate must be the principal investigator in the project. Basic research and original clinical investigations are acceptable. The outline of research project should be submitted, in English, in the form of a grant proposal, not exceeding two pages of A4, to the Education Committee. The proposal should be submitted as soon as possible in the training period, but in any case not later than one year after the stated starting date.

Activities

AR residents are strongly advised to attend a minimum of 4 weeks (equivalent to 140 hours) of courses on dermatology. AR residents are strongly advised to have attended a minimum of three Annual Meetings of AMAMS or International/National Dermatology Meetings of equivalent status during a training period.

GUIDELINES FOR THE PREPARATION OF
A RESIDENCY PROGRAMME SUBMISSION

(The programme has to be resubmitted every five years)

These Guidelines have been produced as an aid in the preparation of a submission to have a Residency programme approved. They are not meant to be complete. Applicants should prepare their submission by careful reference to the College's Residency Programme document, detailing how they intend to satisfy the requirements of the Programme.

1. Name of the applicant.

2. Type of Residency Programme. Is the Programme Formalized or Individualized?

3. Length of the Training Programme. List the number of months; starting and finishing dates (if it is an individualized programme). The residency should last normally no longer than 36 months. List days/weeks of effective work if it is an individualized programme.

4. Institution. State the location of the residency. Give details of the institution (private veterinary practice or university). Is the clinical time of the residency spent in more than one place? Give mailing details of the facility. Is a library available?

5. Preceptors. Give the name of all Preceptors: the Programme Director, the Resident Supervisor and the Resident Advisor(s) etc, (N.B. The Programme Director and the Resident Supervisor may be the same person).

6. Dermatology Residency Program Description

・ Facility. Give details of the dermatology programme. Are small animals, large animals and exotic/small mammals seen? Are large/exotic animals seen somewhere else? Describe the consulting room, the laboratory and the equipment available to the residents for the daily clinical activity. Is there both a first opinion and referred case clinic or a referred case clinic only? List the people (name, title and qualifications ) working in the dermatology service (Faculty, Lecturer, Staff, Resident, Nurse).

・ Clinical Training and Supervision. Describe the supervised and non-supervised time spent in the clinic. Describe the caseload in small, large and exotic animals.

・ Basic Science and Theoretical Clinical Training. Describe how it is intended to teach the basic science, structure and function and immunology of dermatology. Is the book review session a joint meeting with other colleagues/mentors?

・ Structure & Function and Clinical Dermatology. Describe how much time is spent in reviewing books (e.g. Small Animal Dermatology, Equine Dermatology, Human Dermatology), attending lectures at university, etc. Is the book review session a joint meeting with other colleagues/mentors?

・ Book Reviews and Journal Clubs. How often do meetings occur and which veterinary/medical journals are reviewed? Is a dermatology library or dermatology book/journal collection or on-line access available for the Resident?

・ Dermatopathology Training. Is the dermatopathology training done by a Pa thology Diplomate, persons with other qualifications in Pathology or a Dermatology Diplomate? Has the Resident access to a slide archive? Where is the training done?

・ Research Project. Which facilities and financial support (University, private industry) are available to allow the Resident to perform a research project?

・ Teaching & Presentations. Would the Resident be involved in lecturing to students, lay people (e.g. breeders), nurses, or colleagues? The presentation of case reports or clinical/retrospective studies must be encouraged at local, national and international meetings.

・ Continuing Education. Would the Resident get financial help and time to attend national, international meetings and workshop?

・ Time spent in other fields. Has the Resident chance to interact with other specialists (e.g. Diplomates in internal medicine, surgery and/or diagnostic imaging?). Are any of them working in the same facility as the Resident? List them and their specialty. Is the Resident attending other rounds: (e.g internal medicine rotation, rounds and seminars) or (e.g.) human dermatology rounds?

・ Standard working week. Give details on how many weeks are spent on-clinic and off-clinic.