In addition to completing undergraduate training and four years of veterinary school, Board-Certified Veterinary Specialists are similar to their human medical counterparts in that they have completed an internship and residency in their specialized field (an additional three to five years training). In addition to this extensive training, a Board-Certified Veterinary Specialist must pass rigorous examinations to achieve Board-Certification from the ACVIM. The ACVIM specialists bring a greater understanding in the area of internal medicine, cardiology, oncology, neurology or nutrition and have a greater knowledge of the unusual, the uncommon, or rare in both large and small animals.