About

The European College of Veterinary Microbiology was founded in 2016 and is a constituent College of the European Board of Veterinary Specialization

The ECVM aims to provide specialist training and certification of veterinarians in veterinary microbiology in Europe.

The mission of ECVM is to contribute significantly to the maintenance and enhancement of the quality of European Veterinary Specialists in Veterinary Microbiology across all European countries at the highest possible level to ensure that improved veterinary medical services will be provided to the public.

The primary objectives of the College are the promotion of the study, research and practice of veterinary microbiology in Europe, and the enhancement of the competency of those who practice in this field by:

Each European College of Veterinary Microbiology (ECVM) residency programme is an approved training programme that allows a graduate veterinarian to acquire in-depth knowledge of veterinary microbiology and its supporting specialties under the guidance and supervision of Diplomate(s) of the ECVM. The minimal length of a residency programme is three years.

The objective of any ECVM Residency programme is to train Specialists in veterinary microbiology who will have the professional qualities and technical skills necessary for successful employment and the practice of the speciality. Moreover, residency programmes must aim for the development of a culture, which recognizes the importance of continuous professional development and engenders the necessary self-confidence, self-criticism and sense of responsibility expected in European Veterinary Specialists.

The overall aims of the residency programme are to:

The ECVM is committed to fostering a culture of continuous quality improvement across all facets of its governance, training, and examination systems. Quality Assurance (QA) at ECVM is not approached as a static set of requirements but as a dynamic process, systematically integrated across the College’s operations. The central pillar of the QA framework is the Quality Assurance Committee (QA Com), which is responsible for addressing all issues of quality assurance of College activities and oversees the development, implementation, and monitoring of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) across all ECVM Committees and working groups.

With regards to the College’s administration, the measures of QA aim at making sure that all roles and responsibilities are clearly defined, decision-making is evidence-based, and the realization of assigned tasks is reliably tracked and evaluated. A structured system for the documentation and dissemination of decisions further supports operational transparency and accountability.

In relation to the Residency Examination, the QA strategy encompasses the complete cycle of process definition, implementation, assessment, revision, and contingency planning. Systematic monitoring is carried out through internal reporting mechanisms and resident feedback instruments. The findings of these evaluations are reviewed against predefined benchmarks and inform targeted improvements in examination practices.

For Residency Training, QA measures are applied at both the institutional (Training Centres) and programmatic (Residency Programmes) levels. The QA Com, in collaboration with the Education Committee, ensures that training programs meet the College’s educational standards and remain aligned with the core competencies of Veterinary Microbiology. Ongoing evaluations and direct feedback from Supervisors and Residents provide vital data for revising training practices and addressing any deficiencies through well-defined corrective and contingency procedures.

Together, these integrated measures represent a coherent QA system that upholds the integrity of the ECVM’s educational mission, ensures the validity of its certification processes, and supports the delivery of high-quality, specialty-level training in Veterinary Microbiology.