The abbreviation after your veterinarian’s name may vary from doctor to doctor, depending upon the training and skill level your veterinarian has achieved.
Following is an explanation of the various credentials (outlined by Belle Mead Animal Hospital) as published by the American Animal Hospital Association:
DVM
This degree stands for doctor of veterinary medicine. Veterinarians with DVM degrees have graduated from United States veterinary schools and earned a doctorate, which is required to practice veterinary medicine.
VMD
This is a doctoral degree similar to the DVM, but it comes specifically from the University of Pennsylvania. This university calls its degree a veterinary medical doctorate and abbreviates it as such.
Technician
You may have noticed that the veterinary technicians have credentials after their names, such as CVT (Certified Veterinary Technician), RVT (Registered Veterinary Technician), and LVT (Licensed Veterinary Technician). These initials signify that the technician has earned a degree from an accredited veterinary technician school and has been trained to properly care for your pet while assisting the veterinarians in a multitude of tasks.
There is another credential called Diplomate that helps define those veterinarians who choose to do more extensive work in a specialized field such as scientific research. They might also become certified by a specialty board. Look for diplomate status by the abbreviation dipl. and the name of the organization (dipl. ABVP) or with the capital letter D before the name of the organization (DABVP).
Whether you're a new pet owner or have owned several pets for years, it's a good idea to select a veterinarian before you actually need one.
Consider Dogtime.com's top 5 steps to choosing a good vet.