How to become a veterinarian

It is a long road between a childhood dream of working with horses and a doctorate in veterinary science. But with enough hard work and a clear goal in mind, you’ll be fixing up Felix and de-worming Puggles in no time.

Most people wondering how to become a veterinarian are attracted by a career that combines the opportunity to work with animals, high earnings, ample job opportunities, and intellectual stimulation, all while making the world a better place.

While a career in veterinary medicine offers all these things, it also requires a considerable investment of time and money in education.

To break down a vet’s journey, we explain the 7 steps to becoming a veterinarian.

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 rascals.

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.

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

If you want to work with animals, but you don’t want to commit to 8 years of college, you could opt to pursue a career as a vet tech instead.

The main requirements to become a veterinarian are getting a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine and a license to practice. Below, we explain how to become a veterinarian in 7 easy-to-follow steps.

Step 1 – 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 2 – Gain experience by interning or volunteering

Gaining real-life experience before you head to vet school is highly recommended. This could mean finding a role as an intern, volunteering, or getting a job in a veterinary-adjacent field.

Some aspiring vets may take a gap year after undergrad to gain working experience, while others may be able to snag an internship during college.

Gaining experience in animal science or medicine – or at least working with animals – can bolster your vet school application and increase your chances of getting a job later.

Step 3 – 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, English, 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

Step 4 – 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 animals
• 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 5 – 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%

Step 6 — 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.

Step 7 —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.

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 fewer new veterinarians each year than open positions.

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

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.

Average vet salary and job demand

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average veterinarian salary is $100,370 per year. Moreover, the career outlook for veterinarians is extremely positive. The average projected growth for all occupations between 2021 and 2031 is 8%, while for veterinarians it is 19%.