How to become a veterinarian

Most people choose a career in veterinary medicine because they love animals and want to improve animal health and quality of life. Other factors include high earning potential, the chance to solve complex problems, and lifelong learning.

What do vets do?

Veterinarians are animal doctors. They prevent, diagnose, and treat health problems in pets, farm animals, and other finned, scaled, and furry creatures.

The responsibilities of a vet can vary from one moment to the next. On any given day, they might clean a small dog’s teeth, vaccinate a rabbit, or perform emergency surgery on a horse.

A career in veterinary medicine allows the practitioner to combine their love of science and animals, and transform this into meaningful and rewarding work.

Where do vets work?

Veterinarians can work in a variety of settings including veterinary clinics and hospitals, research facilities, laboratories, wildlife rehabilitation centers, zoos, aquariums, and classrooms. Some vets also travel to farms and ranches to care for large animals.

Vets who work in laboratories and classrooms typically have enviable schedules, without weekend, evening, or on-call work. Vets who work in clinics, hospitals, and zoos, often rotate shifts over the evenings and weekends in case an emergency call arises.

Veterinarians can also own their practice. About 21% of all vets do exactly that, combining their passion for veterinary medicine with entrepreneurship. Even so, fewer veterinarians are choosing ownership than in the past.

How hard is it to become a veterinarian?

Becoming a veterinarian can be challenging. Students need to first earn an undergraduate degree in a related field and take the GRE test. After this, they can apply to 1 or more of the 30 accredited veterinary programs in the United States. Admission requirements are stringent due to the fact that there are often more than twice as many applicants as there are available places. Applicants commonly need a GPA of 3.5 or higher.

If accepted, students complete the 4-year veterinary program and then need to take the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) before they can apply for a state license and begin work.

Fortunately, finding employment after graduation is easier than getting into a veterinary program, mainly because there are less new veterinarians each year than open positions.

How many years does it take to become a veterinarian?

Veterinarians need to complete 8 years of postsecondary education before they begin to practice. In addition, some students work in laboratories or other settings between their bachelor’s and doctoral degrees. Although this provides invaluable experience and can improve a candidate’s doctoral application, it extends the time before a candidate is qualified to work.

» Read: Here’s how U.S. News ranks the best medical schools

Step 1 – Study relevant subjects in high school

The first step to becoming a vet is studying the right subjects in high school. Enrolling in the following courses can help you build a strong academic foundation.

• Math: algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and calculus
• Science: biology, chemistry, and physics
• English: 4 years of English composition

» Read: What is STEM?

Other steps a high school student can take to support their application and prepare for a career as a vet include:

• joining 4-H and participating in 1 of the mentoring schemes they offer
• working on a farm
• volunteering at your nearest animal shelter
• shadowing a vet at your local clinic

Step 2 – Get an undergraduate degree

Although a bachelor’s degree is required to apply for vet school, there is no bachelor’s degree in veterinary medicine. Therefore, students are advised to choose a relevant major, like animal sciences, wildlife biology, zoology, biology, chemistry, microbiology, or biochemistry.

Students working toward a DVM often state that they are “pre-vet” indicating that they are getting a 4-year degree as a stepping stone to a veterinary graduate program.

The courses required to be admitted into a doctoral program depend on the specific program, so make sure to research these for your chosen DVM program. The Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges provides a list of course prerequisites for different colleges and programs.

Step 3 – Get experience in the field (optional)

While some students move straight from their bachelor’s into a doctorate program, others choose to gain real-life experience first.

Gaining experience in animal science or medicine can bolster your vet school application and increase your chances of getting a job later.

There are also numerous related jobs for those who have pre-veterinary medicine degrees. These jobs come under the following categories.

Step 4 – Apply to vet school

While applying for vet school is competitive, it isn’t impossible – and thousands of people are accepted every year.

The American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges offers a  centralized application portal, which makes it easier to apply to multiple schools. Students need to meet the specific prerequisites of each program to apply. Those prerequisites typically include:

• specific undergraduate courses in math, science, composition, and other subjects
• an undergraduate GPA of 3.0 or 3.5 or above, depending on the program
• experience working with animals in any capacity is helpful
• GRE or MCAT, standardized tests required for entrance into veterinary school and other graduate programs
• letters of recommendation from undergraduate professors or current veterinarians you have worked or volunteered under

When applying to vet school, you may notice that some schools offer a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), while others offer a Veterinary Medical Doctor degree (VMD). This is just a naming convention, there is no difference in the degree itself.

Veterinary programs are accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) Council on Education (COE). It is important to choose an accredited program as it ensures you are eligible for licensure upon graduation.

How much does it cost to become a veterinarian?

Vet school can be expensive, costing upwards of $200,000. Students can take several steps to reduce the cost and long-term financial burden of their DVM program:

• consider earning an associate’s degree at a community college before transferring to a 4-year school
• take advantage of as many grants and scholarships as possible during your undergraduate program so you begin your DVM program with little debt
• apply for scholarships, fellowships, and grants to cover part of the cost of your DVM program
• complete the free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) to see if you are eligible for a loan. Loans on offer include federal loans for health students, federal unsubsidized loans, graduate PLUS loans, and private student loans.

Veterinarians who work in non-profit organizations or the public sector may also qualify for loan forgiveness through the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PLSF).

» Read: Student loan repayment options

Step 5 – Go to vet school

After being accepted into a program, it is time to begin working toward your DVM or VMD degree.

DVM students spend long days in class and their evenings on personal study. Their schedules are heavy in math and sciences, typically including a combination of lectures and laboratory work.

While each program is different, students can expect to take a combination of theoretical and clinical courses. Clinical courses enable students to apply what they have learned in simulation and real-life settings.

Most programs focus primarily on theoretical training in the first 2 years and clinical experience in the remainder of the program.

The specific courses available vary between programs, but commonly include:

• anatomy and physiology – Students study gross and microscopic anatomy, as well as physiology courses, to better understand how an animal’s body works at the macro and micro level.
• pharmacology – Aspiring vets take pharmacology courses to learn how to prescribe medications for the prevention and treatment of disease in animals, and how those medications affect the body.
• surgery and anesthesia – Vets take several courses in surgery and anesthesia to better prepare them to operate on the animals in their care.
• practice management – Many veterinary programs offer courses in practice management to prepare veterinarians to effectively run a practice upon graduation.

Students can specialize in 1 of 46 specialties recognized by the American Board of Veterinary Specialties. Each of these typically requires additional training, education, and exams.

Available specialties include:

• swine health management
• exotic companion animal
• shelter medicine
• nutrition
• oncology
• virology

Final year students may also be able to choose a specialization—for example, small animal, large animal, or equine— and then complete elective courses in that area.

Step 6 – Pass the NAVLE

In order to be licensed and credentialed, DVM students need to pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE). They are eligible to take the NAVLE up to 10 months before they graduate from their doctoral program, so most students take it during their senior year.

The NAVLE contains 300 scored items, comprising work context, diagnoses, competencies, and foundational knowledge. Test-takers are given a total of 65 minutes per section with small breaks in between each section. There are 6 sections and the total test time is around 6.5 hours.

The exam has a pass rate of 78.6%. Students can retake the NAVLE up to 4 times, but all attempts must be within 5 years of the first attempt. The final 2 attempts need to be at least 1 year from the previous, most recent attempt.

Step 7 — Get certified/licensed

After passing the NAVLE, candidates need to get licensed before they can start work. To apply for a veterinary license, submit an application with the state board of veterinary medicine. Requirements vary by state, but a doctoral degree and NAVLE exam are always required.

Some vets also seek out certification in an area of expertise, which is discussed more in Step 9.

Step 8 —Specialize in a specific veterinary area (optional)

Specialization is not required for many veterinarian jobs, but it can help vets build their skill set, expertise, resume, and qualify them for more specialized positions.

Specialization requires additional training, education, and examinations. Veterinarians who have been certified in a specialty are called board-certified veterinary specialists. Some examples include:

• Board-certified veterinary toxicologist – Toxicologists complete 4 years of training in toxicology, author at least 2 publications or complete 2 funded research projects, and pass the certification examination.

• Board-certified veterinary microbiologist – There are several routes to becoming a board-certified veterinary microbiologist. As an example, the first route requires a Ph.D. in veterinary microbiology in addition to a DVM and passing the board examination.

Step 9: Get your first veterinarian job

As graduation nears, veterinarians typically begin to apply for their first jobs. Although the job outlook is excellent, landing a position still requires a polished resume, great communication skills, and the right credentials.

Just like many new professionals, veterinarians are likely to find career opportunities on major job boards like Indeed or LinkedIn, but there are also job boards specific to animal medicine. These include iHireVeterinary and the AVMA Career Center.

» Read: Essential tips for finding a new job

Joining a professional association for veterinarians can also help with forging connections that are beneficial in the job search.

Veterinarians salary and demand

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the career outlook for veterinarians is extremely positive. The average projected growth for all occupations between 2020 and 2030 is 8%, while for veterinarians it is 17%. That is the equivalent of an estimated 4,400 job openings per year. When we consider that only 3,000 vets graduate from U.S. programs annually, those who choose this career are likely to find employment after graduation.

What other jobs can I get with a DVM?

Although most people who earn a DVM become a veterinarian, there are alternative career paths available. The table below provides a general job description and salary for these positions.