This workshop by Mark Bowen from the EBVS examines the future of credentialling in veterinary specialist training, focusing on transitioning from traditional time-based models to competency-based veterinary education (CBVE). The presentation critiques current assessment methods that rely heavily on case logs and publications, highlighting issues like low pass rates and misalignment between training and examination content. It introduces a comprehensive competency framework with progressive milestones across domains such as clinical reasoning, communication, and professionalism, supported by various assessment tools like OSCEs and workplace-based evaluations. The workshop also critically evaluates the role of research in specialist education, questioning whether current publication requirements truly develop research competency, and proposes alternative approaches such as robust assessment of research proposals, literature synthesis skills, and developing professional peer review capabilities rather than simply requiring publications as credentialling hurdles.