Regulation

Veterinary Medicine is regulated by the Swedish Board of Agriculture under SJVFS 2013:15 Saknr C 23 “Föreskrifter om ändring i Statens jordbruksverks föreskrifter och allmänna råd (SJVFS 2009:83) om behörigheter för djurhälsopersonal”.

Veterinary Specialist Recognition 

The title of veterinary specialist has a protected status in Sweden and can only be used after an approved application to the Swedish Board of Agriculture. Only a veterinarian who has the formal title "Specialist" is allowed to use this designation.

A veterinarian with a Swedish specialist education or corresponding (e.g. European Board of Veterinary Specialisation, American Board of Veterinary Specialties, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons) can apply to the Swedish Board of Agriculture to be approved as a specialist. The title Diplomate is often used as it is because it is recognized to represent a high level of competence.

The Swedish national specialist programme has two stages or steps. Step I leads to specialism in small animals, equine, bovine, pig or food safety. Step II was started in 2007 and only exists for small animals. Step II specialists must be Step I specialists and have completed Step II education in dermatolology, internal medicine, cardiology, surgery, reproduction, opthalmology or odontology. The specialist programs are a cooperation between the Swedish Veterinary Association and the Swedish Board of Agriculture. 

Advanced Veterinary Practitioners and Continuing education of veterinary general practitioners

Veterinarians are allowed to announce what education they have and their special interests but cannot call themselves specialists unless they have completed the Swedish specialist program or a corresponding education (such as Diplomate) and been approved by the Swedish board of agriculture. Specialist is a protected title. 

Veterinary Education 

The Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Animal Science of the Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet (Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences) provides a full veterinary curriculum. Veterinarians in Sweden do not usually use the title of Doctor unless they have also been awarded a PhD.

Membership Organisations

The Swedish Veterinary Association is the membership organisation for veterinarians. The Swedish Society of Veterinary Medicine has different interest groups such as surgery, dermatology, reproduction.