Faculty

• Chair invites suitable new faculty, ensuring pre-requisites are satisfied (AO VET member, attendance of principles plus advanced / master course, suitably eminent individual)
• Individual acts as provisional faculty on course
• Chair or Assistant Chair acts as mentor and assessor
• If deemed suitable to become full faculty, application form submitted to regional board with reference from chair
• Regional board assess application and if appropriate recommend attendance at Faculty Education Program (FEP) and move to full faculty.
• Decision ratified by AO VET Education Commission 

The process of doing Faculty Education Program (FEP) is an essential step in becoming an approved AO VET full faculty member - it is the step between being a provisional AO faculty and a full faculty member. This process is managed through the AO VET Regional Boards and overseen by the AO VET Education Commission (AOVEC).

The process is as follows:

• Applicant must have attended at least one AO VET Principles and at least one AO VET advanced or masters course.
  
  
• Where a specialist college exists within the applicant’s country, the applicant should be a college- or board-registered surgery specialist. Where no specialist college exists within the applicant’s country, or in other exceptional circumstances, applications from non-specialist veterinarians to become an AO VET faculty member may be considered. 
  
  
• The applicant should have a clear track record of orthopaedic education and of relevant research or publications in management of musculoskeletal disease. 
  
  
• Applications will only progress through the applicant’s Regional Board. 
  
  
• The applicant should provide a current full CV to their Regional Board that includes a list of lectures given at continuing education and scientific meetings, other relevant teaching experience and relevant professional and research presentations. The CV must demonstrate high level clinical expertise and participation and experience as an educator. 
  
  
• The applicant should provide the Regional Board with a letter of intent that emphasises their past experiences as a surgeon and an educator, explains why they want to become an AO VET faculty member and that demonstrates their commitment to excellence in their specialty.
  
  
• The applicant should organise 2 letters of recommendation to be sent to the Regional Board from AO VET faculty with whom they have shared their CV and letter of intent and have discussed their interest in becoming AO VET faculty member. The referees need to vouch for the applicant’s excellence and acknowledge that they are aware of the standards and responsibilities of AO faculty and that they believe the applicant will adhere to and promote those standards. Their letters should address the applicant’s strengths as an educator and provide some insight into their collegiality and professionalism. These letters from sponsors should be sent directly to the Regional AO VET Board / AO VET office.
  
  
• Following provisional approval of the application by the Regional Board, the applicant is invited to teach as provisional faculty at an AO VET event. The Regional Board will organise through AOVEC to have an appropriately qualified AO VET faculty to act as course / faculty assessor and review the applicant’s teaching and provide structured feedback.
  
  
• Following evaluation of teaching at 1 or 2 AO VET courses, if the course / faculty assessor recommends progression to full faculty the Regional Board formally considers the teaching feedback. Based on the Regional Board’s recommendation, an application for attendance at FEP is organised subject to availability of FEP course positions