How to become a veterinarian

How to Become a Veterinarian

Veterinarians are the primary providers of healthcare services to companion, zoo and sporting animals, and livestock. Most work in private practices, typically caring for small animals such as dogs, cats, and birds. Find out exactly what you need to do to become a vet, including education and licensing requirements, but first, see what characteristics will help make you successful in this occupation.

Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Veterinarian?

To work in this occupation, you must have a strong aptitude for science, since your training will consist mostly of coursework in this subject. If science isn’t your strength, you can still find a career working with animals in another occupation.

In addition to scientific aptitude, there are other qualities, known as soft skills, you must have. Aside from the obvious—compassion, sensitivity to others’ feelings, and a love of animals—you must have very good listening, speaking, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. You must possess the ability to reason, meaning that you have to be able to draw conclusions by piecing together strands of information that may not seem related to one another. 

Required Education

Aspiring veterinarians must earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, abbreviated as either DVM or VMD. This is a four-year program that usually, but not necessarily, follows earning a bachelor’s degree.

In vet school your coursework probably will include the following:

All DVM and VMD students also receive clinical training as part of their education. These are usually called clinical rotations and give students hands-on experience working with patients and clients. They may work in a variety of clinical areas, including surgery, community practice, equine medicine, and oncology. 

Getting Admitted to a Professional DVM or VMD Program

With only 30 veterinary schools in the U.S., competition for admission is intense. While an undergraduate degree is not required, it will increase your chances of being accepted.

Before you can enroll, you will need a certain number of college credits, as well as prerequisite coursework including classes in biology, chemistry, physics, genetics, biochemistry, math, English, social sciences, and the humanities.

Most schools request scores from a standardized test, such as the Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) or the Graduate Record Exam (GRE). Check with the schools where you want to apply to find out which test they require.

The Association of American Veterinary Colleges provides admissions requirements and other information for member schools in the U.S., as well as details about Canadian and other international schools. You also will find details about Canadian and other international schools.

Getting Licensed After Graduation

Every state and the District of Columbia mandate that all veterinarians have a license to practice. Requirements vary by jurisdiction, but all stipulate that individuals pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination. This is a computerized 360 question multiple-choice exam. You may also have to pass a state exam.

One must have received a professional degree from a veterinary school of medicine accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and completed at least one year of clinical training through an internship or similar experience. Some state boards will license graduates of unaccredited programs with additional testing. Continuing education is generally required for license renewal. To find out what regulations are in effect state-by-state, visit the American Association of Veterinary State Boards and see the Board and Agency Directory. 

How to Get Your First Veterinarian Job

Demand for veterinarians far outweighs demand for most professions. Job growth for the decade ending in 2028 is projected to be 18%, significantly better than the 5% growth projected for all occupations combined. 

Employers seek job candidates who provide exemplary care for animals, but they also typically value:

How to Become a Veterinarian

Spending the majority of your adult life taking care of animals may sound like a dream come true, especially if you’ve always been an animal lover growing up. But there’s a lot more to this career than just petting and hugging your furry friends. Becoming a veterinarian requires dedication, patience and a host of other skills that not a lot of people have.

But if you’re serious about being animals’ best friend (see what I did there?), then here are the most important things you should know about this profession.

1. Research the Profession

Before following any career path, it’s important to gather as much as data as you can to make a well-informed decision. To save you some time, we’ve done a bit of research for you.

Job Description

Veterinarians are essentially animal doctors. They diagnose, treat and operate on all kinds of animals from big to small, furry to scaly and everything in between. As much as there are different types of human doctors, there are also many kinds of veterinarians. Here are some of the most popular types:

While a veterinarian’s responsibilities may change depending on their specialty or area of expertise, their general duties include:

Essential Skills and Qualities

It goes without saying that to become a veterinarian, you must be an animal lover. To excel in this profession, however, you must also demonstrate the following:

Working Hours and Conditions

Veterinarians have different kinds of offices. Some have their own private practice, others work in local clinics, while others work in zoos or even ranches and farms. However, vets typically spend more hours working than the average employee. They usually clock in at least 50 to 60 hours a week and are typically on call, especially for emergencies. Similar to human doctors, veterinarians have an unpredictable and demanding schedule that can be very challenging to manage.

Salary Prospects

In the UK, vets starting out in their career typically earn about £30,000. With experience, this can rise to over £50,000 per year.

Job Outlook

Now more than ever, people are invested in owning and taking care of their pets, with 44% of millennials even preferring to have them over children. Having said this, the demand for veterinarians is expected to grow by at least 19% more in the next decade.

2. Get the Qualifications

Becoming a veterinarian is no walk in the park. It’s a very competitive industry that sets very high standards and stringent requirements.

In the US, all veterinarians are expected to complete a four-year degree course. While it doesn’t matter what your major is, you will be required to take specific science classes, including chemistry, biology and zoology. To avoid the hassle of taking these classes on top of your usual course load, choose a science degree right from the start.

While in college, you will be expected to maintain a grade point average (GPA) of 3.5 or higher. Normally, you apply to veterinary school during your junior year. The application process involves a series of tests, including submitting paper work, going to interviews and passing the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Because of this strict process, only a chosen few are able to enter vet school. When choosing which school to enter, make sure that it’s accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).

Veterinary medical education takes four years to finish and that includes a year or so of real-life training with different kinds of animals and animal settings. After getting your DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) or VMD (Veterinariae Mediciniae Doctoris) degree, you must take another exam to get your licence. The licensing procedures will depend on the state you live in, but most requirements can be found online.

The UK has generally the same standards. You’re required to maintain above average grades and take prerequisite science classes before you’re accepted to veterinary school. However, unlike the US, getting a degree usually takes five years (or more), and there’s only a handful of universities that offer this kind of course. These universities include:

After you’ve gotten your degree from your chosen veterinary school, you must register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

3. Get Your First Job

By now we’ve established that becoming a veterinarian is hard, but the good news is that getting your first job shouldn’t be as difficult. To get your first job, your best bet would be to try and apply at your local clinic or pet hospital. Most usually have available openings for veterinarians, and since there’s only a handful who complete this course, having a licence to practise already gives you a foot in the door. At this point, it all comes down to how well you do during your interview.

Veterinary school is very expensive, so while it’s tempting to open your own private practice, we recommend getting some more experience by working for a clinic or a hospital first, instead.

4. Develop Your Career

Like most jobs, you can improve your career by choosing to specialise in a specific field. For example, there are veterinarians who specialise in animal welfare or surgery. Some also choose to focus on a particular practice, which means they will focus on a specific animal species which is why you have feline or canine veterinarians and so on.

You can also develop your career by spending time volunteering in farms or animal shelters that may not have the budget or the means to take care of their animals. Not only will you gain more experience, but you’ll get a better understanding of what it’s like working with different kinds of animals, too.

What kind of veterinarian would you like to be? Let us know in the comments section below.

How to Become a Veterinarian: Steps to Take from High School

If you love working with and caring for animals, then there’s a good chance that you’ve considered becoming a veterinarian. But as a high school student, it can be challenging to figure out which steps will set you up for career success, especially when certain career paths, like becoming a vet, have so many requirements. And how do you know if being a veterinarian really is the right career choice for you?

While you shouldn’t expect to have everything figured out by the time you’re in high school, it doesn’t hurt to begin exploring careers that you’re already interested in. Most students are interested in occupations with related skills and knowledge requirements. By beginning to learn about and prepare for one career, students often discover opportunities which will help prepare them for other careers in similar fields.

If you’re reading this, there’s a good chance that you have an interest in working with animals, and many animal-related occupations have similar educational requirements. So if you’re an animal lover, looking into becoming a vet is a great place to start. By taking the right courses and gaining practical experience while you’re in high school, you’ll be exposed to the variety of animal-related careers out there and be able to hone in on whether becoming a veterinarian is the right choice for you. Here’s some information to help you get started.

What Does a Veterinarian Do?

Generally speaking, vets care for animals in the same way that physicians care for humans. Vets examine animals to assess their overall health, diagnose illnesses and treat injuries and may provide care recommendations to animal owners of all kinds.

Veterinarians can specialize in a few different areas. Here are some to consider:

How Much Does a Veterinarian Make?

That said, the job outlook for veterinarians is promising; jobs in veterinary medicine are expected to grow 18% by 2028. There’s a good chance that once you graduate with your Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, you’ll be able to find employment.

How to Become a Vet

High School

In high school, the best thing you can do is to gain experience working with animals and honing your skills in science while maintaining a good academic performance in all of your classes. You’ll need to do well in college-level science courses to have a chance at getting into veterinary school, so it’s good to start early by taking as many science classes as you can and working to do well in them.

You can get a leg up by taking more advanced classes as well, such as taking Honors or AP Biology or dual enrolling at your local college or university. And if you find that you’re struggling in a course, especially physics, don’t think that you’re doomed to never be a veterinarian.

Instead, use this opportunity to problem solve by implementing new techniques and habits to supplement your studies. Attending tutoring and extra help sessions and reviewing extra material through the internet or your local library can help you to develop a strong foundation. Not only are you likely to improve your grade, but you’ll also develop important “soft skills” that will help you in college and throughout your career.

You’ll also want to get as much experience working with animals as you can. This may involve volunteering at an animal shelter or zoo or shadowing a veterinarian in a small-animal clinic. Seeking out these sorts of experiences will not only be fun but they’ll also enable you to talk to people in the profession and learn about the variety of careers that are out there. High school is the time to explore your options!

College

Most veterinary schools do not require you to major in any particular subject, but they do require that you demonstrate strong skills in science in addition to your overall academic excellence. Many veterinary schools will consider your overall GPA, the GPA of your most recent courses dating back to about one year (for example, the last 45 credits), and the GPA of your science classes. As you can see, you should aim to do well in all of your courses, but you should especially focus on your performance in science.

Most programs require that students have completed a certain set of science courses, whether as part of their major or as electives. Here are some of the common courses you need to take:

There are some slight variations between schools when it comes to the necessary prerequisites. For example, NC State requires all applicants to have taken an Animal Nutrition course, while schools like UC Davis and UF do not require it. Many schools also do not allow upper-division prerequisites, such as genetics, to be completed at a two-year or community college, although you can begin your education at one.

So while you can choose to major in anything, you may find it helpful to study something with a wide variety of science courses already included in the curriculum. Popular options include biology, zoology, microbiology, and animal sciences. Some undergraduate schools offer a “pre-vet” option within one of their majors, which can be an easy way to make sure you’re getting as many prerequisites covered as possible.

Veterinary School and Residency

In addition to completing your prerequisites, some schools may require you to submit Graduate Record Examination (GRE) scores. This is a general standardized test similar to the SAT or ACT you’ll take in high school, but it measures whether you have mastered college-level academic skills rather than just high school concepts.

Most veterinary schools also require that you have some demonstrated experience working with animals throughout college, whether in a formal veterinary setting or other settings such as zoos or animal shelters. They also look for substantive recommendations and interview their applicants before making their final selection. No matter where you apply, veterinary school is a competitive process.

Once you’re in, most veterinary schools are a minimum of four-year programs, where the fourth year is spent doing clinical rotations at veterinary clinics or hospitals, and many veterinary programs combine clinical experience throughout the four-year curriculum. As a result, most veterinary students graduate with hands-on experience working alongside licensed veterinarians on live animals in the common animal disciplines as part of the standard curriculum.

However, to specialize in certain practices, such as zoo veterinary medicine, or to be able to practice in certain states, you may need to complete a more traditional residency. While most vet schools can easily place their students in a campus-based animal clinic or hospital, you may need to apply for a residency in a more specialized skillset at another university.

Wrapping it Up

While there are some differences between veterinary schools, there are also a lot of similarities. They all require you to have a strong foundation in the sciences, and they emphasize real-world experience working with animals. As a high school student, you can begin to set yourself up on a path for success by focusing on your science classes and seeking out opportunities to work with animals.

If, after reading this, you’re not so sure you want to be a vet, that’s ok too. Many animal-focused careers start with the same two requirements of a science background and animal experience, so by taking these first steps you won’t be wasting your time barking up the wrong tree. You’ll be able to transfer your skills and experience to another career easily.

For more information about how to set yourself up for future success, check out our posts below:

How to become a veterinarian

CareerExplorer’s step-by-step guide on how to become a veterinarian.

In this article:

Is becoming a veterinarian right for me?

The first step to choosing a career is to make sure you are actually willing to commit to pursuing the career. You don’t want to waste your time doing something you don’t want to do. If you’re new here, you should read about:

Still unsure if becoming a veterinarian is the right career path? Take the free CareerExplorer career test to find out if this career is right for you. Perhaps you are well-suited to become a veterinarian or another similar career!

Described by our users as being “shockingly accurate”, you might discover careers you haven’t thought of before.

High School

You can lay a solid foundation for a career in veterinary medicine in high school. Here’s how…

Pay particular attention to the following subject areas:

Advanced Math
The veterinarian profession calls for a high level of math proficiency, which is critical to understanding research studies, physiology, and medication doses. Completing high school classes like algebra, trigonometry, statistics, integrated math, and calculus will prepare you for college mathematics courses.

Life, Chemical, and Physical Sciences
Consider taking honors or advancement placement courses in biology, chemistry, and physics. If offered at your school, enrol in classes directly related to animal behavior and habitats, such as oceanology, zoology, and animal science.

General Education
The most competitive applicants to veterinary schools are well-rounded and articulate. They have already begun preparation for a career which demands that they listen to pet owners and sometimes deliver negative prognoses. Classes in English, speech, psychology, social studies, and humanities are as important as those in science and math.

Volunteer
Real-world experience can help you determine if life as a vet is for you. Look for volunteer or paid positions at a veterinary clinic, zoo, animal shelter, or farm. Join organizations like 4-H clubs that will teach you about animal care and feeding.

Bachelor’s Degree

Prospective veterinarians should earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Pre-Veterinary Science or a related discipline, such as Animal Sciences, Zoology, or Biology.

Many veterinary schools require that applicants have some experience working with animals. Therefore, while earning their bachelor’s degree, it is quite common for undergraduates to pursue college internships that fulfill this prerequisite. These opportunities may exist with zoos, animal farms, research facilities, and veterinary hospitals and clinics.

The following links will help you plan your undergraduate and graduate studies:

Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) Degree

The first two years of a four-year veterinary medicine program follow a classroom/laboratory format, with emphasis on anatomy, neurobiology, epidemiology, virology, and pharmacology. Increasingly, general business courses are becoming part of the DVM curriculum to prepare students to manage a private practice.

The second half of the program transitions students to clinical rotations; allowing them to provide hands-on animal care, make diagnoses, and recommend treatments under the supervision of a licensed veterinarian. The fourth and final year is usually spent in a practicum or externship at a veterinary hospital, clinic, or similar facility. It is generally during this applied experience that future vets choose a specialty.

Licensure

DVM program graduates must pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) before they are permitted to practise. The exam, administered by the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (NBVME), consists of sixty pre-test questions and three hundred scored questions that test diagnostic skills, knowledge of animal species, and treatment procedures.

Some states also require veterinarians to pass a state exam to demonstrate knowledge of specific jurisdictional regulations and laws. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics advises that few states have reciprocity agreements, which means veterinarians licensed in one state who move to another must normally pass any required state exams in the new location before being allowed to practise there.

In addition to fulfilling licensing requirements, veterinary school graduates must take the veterinarian’s oath:

*Being admitted to the profession of veterinary medicine, I solemnly swear to use my scientific knowledge and skills for the benefit of society through the protection of animal health and welfare, the prevention and relief of animal suffering, the conservation of animal resources, the promotion of public health, and the advancement of medical knowledge.

I will practice my profession conscientiously, with dignity, and in keeping with the principles of veterinary medical ethics.

I accept as a lifelong obligation the continual improvement of my professional knowledge and competence.*

Specialization (optional)

After graduating and becoming licensed, veterinarians can obtain board certification in one or more of the veterinary specialties. According to the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP), they can do so via one of two paths:

Residency Path

Residency applicants must:
— Complete a rotating internship or a minimum of one year in practice
— Complete a two- or three-year, ABVP-approved residency training program
— Submit two case reports from the preceding five years, or one case report and one publication, for review along with other specialized documentation

Practitioner Path

Practitioner applicants must:
— Have five years clinical experience as a veterinarian
— Submit two case reports from the preceding five years, or one case report and one publication, along with other specialized documentation

Continuing Education

Membership in national and state associations provides vets with access to continuing education resources and networking opportunities. Among the most prominent national organizations in the field are:

SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips

How to Become a Veterinarian: Key Steps and Qualities

It’s quite likely that your first encounter with a veterinarian happened when your pet was sick and needed a little extra care. That’s because a veterinarian’s primary job is to care for animals! Working with cute, cuddly critters is part of the appeal of the job—in fact, “veterinarian” is one of the most common responses from kids when they’re asked what they want to do when they grow up!

If you’re interested in becoming a vet, it’s a good idea to know quite a bit about the profession. In this article, we’ll talk about what vets do, what kinds of degrees and licenses they hold, how long it takes to become a vet, and what kinds of personal qualities it takes to succeed in the profession. We’ll also walk you through the process of becoming a vet step by step to help you prepare for your dream career. We’ll cover everything you need to know, including:

So let’s get started!

What Is a Veterinarian and What Do They Do?

By definition, a veterinarian is a doctor who is qualified to practice the science of prevention, cure, and alleviation of disease and injury in animals. Veterinarians work to diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions of pets, livestock, and other animals. Put another way: if it has wings, a tail, or scales, there’s probably a vet whose job it is to keep it happy and healthy.

How Long Does It Take to Become a Vet?

At this point, you might be wondering how long it takes to become a vet. Generally speaking, it takes about 8-10 years from when you graduate high school to become a vet. After completing an initial four-year bachelor degree program, it takes an additional four years of vet school to become a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) and obtain licensure to practice in your state. If you wish to concentrate on a specific niche, such as cardiology or neurology, you’ll need two or more years of specialized training on top of that.

How long it takes to become a vet can vary, but if you really love animals and think caring for them is up your alley, then becoming a veterinarian may be the right choice for you.

The 4 Qualities You Need to Become a Veterinarian

The process of becoming a veterinarian and practicing veterinary medicine requires some pretty serious dedication to the field. Veterinarians spend their entire lives improving their skill sets and contributing to the field, just like doctors who treat humans. That’s why it’s important to really think about whether you’re a good fit for the profession.

Here are four personal qualities to consider when thinking about how to become a veterinarian and if the field is right for you.

#1: Ability to Handle Emotional and Physical Stress

Unfortunately, vets don’t always encounter the animals they love in the best condition. Depending on the specialty, vets will have to see animals in distress or in the last moments of their lives. There will be tough decisions to make and there will be heartbreak. If you are unable to put aside your love for animals enough to focus on treatment, becoming a veterinarian may be more emotionally challenging for you than you might expect.

Additionally, while the critters you help are seriously cute, you’ll also encounter the less glamorous side of veterinary medicine. Vets definitely get their hands dirty! If you are unable to handle the sight of blood and bodily fluids, this profession might not be the best fit for you.

#2: Ability to Work With People

Many people enter in the veterinary field because they love animals. sometimes even more than they love people. However, it’s a common misconception that practicing veterinary medicine will only require interaction with animals.

The field of veterinary medicine requires dealing with people, too. You may not be treating humans, but you will be talking with them about their beloved pets, guiding them to become better owners, and teaching them how to enhance the quality of animals’ lives. Even if you aren’t going to be working with client-owned animals, you will still have to collaborate with peers and colleagues throughout your entire career journey.

In other words, if you’re going into the vet field because you want to completely avoid working around people, you’re out of luck.

#3 Sound Decision-Making Skills

An animal’s quality of life is often in your hands when you’re a veterinarian. Owners will trust you to know what to do to help their animals. As a vet, you will have to have sound decision-making and problem-solving skills. You must also be able to perform well under pressure during critical-care cases. Just like medical doctors, vets have to be able to think on their feet and act quickly even when there’s a lot at stake.

#4: Intellectual Curiosity and Dedication

The entire process of becoming a vet begins in high school and requires serious intellectual investment. In fact, you’ll have to be prepared for 8 to 10 years of additional schooling! Additionally, the field is both challenging and competitive, so you’ll need to be prepared for that as well. If you’re truly dedicated to becoming a vet, the time and effort will be worth it in the end!

Whether you love caring for people’s pets, educating pet owners about their beloved animals, researching livestock behavior, rehabilitating wild birds, or some other type of animal care, your love for the profession will take you a long way. While there will be challenges to becoming a vet, you will probably find the profession very rewarding and ultimately worth it.

How to Become a Veterinarian: High School

If you’re still here, congratulations—you might be a good fit for the veterinary profession. Now it’s time to start your journey. You can begin taking steps down this career path while you’re still in high school by planning your schedule around your goals, applying to the right colleges, and seeking hands-on volunteer opportunities. Here are some of the best ways you can start to make your dream of becoming a vet a reality before you ever step foot on a college campus.

Planning Your Schedule

Math and science are key components when you think about how to become a vet. In fact, Purdue University recommends that you take at least four years of math (geometry, algebra, trigonometry, and calculus), four years of English, four years of lab science (physics, biology, and chemistry), and electives like animal science if you’re serious about vet school.

It’s important that you pay attention to your schedule to ensure you’re taking the right classes and making good grades in them! It’s also a good idea to take courses that will give you college credit. AP or IB classes are a great way to earn college credit, and they also prepare you for the more rigorous courses you will encounter beyond school.

Choosing the Right College

Speaking of college, it’s also important to think about the best institution for you to attend as you prepare for veterinary school. Your choice of college will depend primarily on what best suits your needs, but you should also consider criteria such as GPA, SAT, and ACT requirements.

Having a good GPA and excellent ACT or SAT scores are important for getting accepted into most universities, but standards will vary between institutions. The average high school GPA for college-bound students around a 3.0, and the most competitive colleges (such as Harvard, Yale, and Princeton) closer to a 4.0 average. Ultimately, you will need to meet the requirements specified by your institution, but it’s a good idea to make sure you have a 3.5 GPA or higher so that your options are as open as possible.

Another part of choosing the right college is looking for a degree program that will provide you with a strong education in physical and biological science—an important part of being prepared for vet school. Most universities have the option to major in chemistry, biology, zoology, physiology, microbiology, or anatomy, which are great choices for anyone looking to become a veterinarian. A few universities, such as Ohio State University, Texas A&M University, and University of California in Davis, offer a pre-vet major to give you specific disciplinary knowledge. Many pre-vet programs will help you meet all of the prerequisites for vet school and give you some pre-professional training, too.

The most important thing to keep in mind is that vet school is incredibly competitive. (More on that later.) With that in mind, it’s a good idea to aim for good schools with strong degree programs. That will give you a little more of an edge when you submit your vet school applications later.

Getting Hands-On Experience

While your test scores and grades are important, it’s a good idea to get involved in extracurricular activities that give you a glimpse into the day to day life of working with animals. Get involved with high school organizations like the 4-H or FFA to give you hands-on experience, or seek out volunteer opportunities at the humane society, zoo, or even a livestock farm. You can also job shadow a real veterinarian at a local vet clinic. All of these options will give you valuable field experience and give you insight into how to become a vet.

Another perk to volunteering is that colleges want to see that you have a record of community service. Some colleges may also ask you to explain why you’re a good fit for your college or program. Having specific volunteer experiences to draw from can help you stand out in comparison to other potential students, too.

How to Become A Veterinarian: College

Once you’ve chosen the perfect college, it’s time to saddle up and get down to business. Your major, your academic performance, your relationships with your professors, and your experience with animals will ultimately determine whether you get into vet school—which is the last and most important step in how to become a vet.

Choosing a Major

Choosing the right major will help you structure your undergraduate degree to meet the right prerequisites for vet school. Schools will vary slightly in number of credits required, but according to Purdue, most U.S. vet schools require a list of the following prerequisite courses, regardless of your major:

Some four-year universities also offer a pre-vet track, which includes on the same criteria but may also require additional coursework in animal science, genetics, or microbiology. You don’t need to be pre-vet to get into vet school, but it may be worth exploring if you know you’re interested in a specific discipline, such as equine science, zoological medicine, reptile and amphibian practice, or exotic companion mammal practice.

Maintaining GPA, Getting Experience, and Building Relationships

It’s important to keep up the good academic work in college since getting into vet school is incredibly competitive. In fact, it’s as competitive as getting into med school! The more competitive the program, the higher your cumulative GPA needs to be. Generally speaking, we recommend you aim for a GPA of 3.5 or higher to give yourself the best shot.

Remember all the extracurricular activities, volunteer opportunities, and job shadowing sessions you pursued in high school? You should also keep that up in college. You’ll have to write a statement of purpose explaining why you’re a good fit for vet school, and you’re more likely to stand out amongst your peers during the admissions process if you have experience. Luckily, most universities offer students many opportunities to get involved. For example, you can join student organizations and club activities, volunteer initiatives, and even professional experience programs. Joining organizations (and sticking with them!) is a great way to beef up your vet school application.

Along with participating in extracurriculars, it’s also important to build relationships with your advisors and professors, since they’ll be the ones writing your letters of recommendation. That means speaking up in class, asking questions, taking advantage of office hours, and showing a true interest in the subjects you encounter. Having a professional rapport with your advisors and professors is critical: the better they know you, the more specific and compelling their letters will be.

All students have to apply to vet school using the VMCAS. It’s kind of like the Common App for vet school!

Applying for Vet School

Vet school applications will be due around mid-September of your senior year of college, so start thinking about the application process at the beginning of your junior year. At that point, it’s time to choose the vet schools you want to apply to and begin your applications.

There are currently 30 accredited colleges of veterinary medicine in the United States. Jot down the names of your top choices on a list so you can start researching the schools and their programs. Broadly speaking, you should consider the following criteria while choosing your vet school:

Areas of specialty: does the school have strengths and services in the specific areas you’d like to practice? Check out AVMA’s list of veterinary specialties to see all of your options.

Class size: How many students are enrolled in each class (on average)? Consider whether you prefer bigger or smaller classes.

Expenses: How expensive is each school? Be sure to look at the total cost of attending each college, which includes room and board, program fees, and equipment cost.

Teaching hospital: does the school have a hospital for clinical training, and is the caseload reflective of the work you want to do in your career?

Off campus training: will you want to seek training at other sites through externship opportunities? Training will be a big part of getting a good job after graduation.

Because vet school is very competitive, it’s important to apply to several different institutions in order to have a backup plan.

For example, UC Davis Veterinary Medicine program received 979 applications for the class of 2023, and only 191 of those applicants were offered admission, while 478 students applied to the Texas A&M University Veterinary Medicine program, and only 158 were admitted. It’s a good idea to rank your list of universities from most preferred to least preferred institutions, and plan to apply to at least five to seven of your top-ranked schools.

One way to make sure you get into the school of your dreams is acing your entrance exams. Make sure you leave yourself plenty of time to study for the GRE or MCAT, and take the exam more than once if necessary. During the 2013 application cycle, the average vet school applicant had an average GPA of 3.56 and GRE scores of 155 (66th percentile), 154 (57th percentile) and 3.9 (54th percentile) on the verbal, quantitative, and analytical tests, respectively. You should also make sure to give your professors a few months to write your letters of recommendation.

The good news is that you only need to fill out one singular application for vet school, which will then be sent to each institution you select. This application—called the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VCMAS)—is provided through the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). You’ll have to submit:

Luckily, the AAVMC provides a detailed application checklist to help keep you on track. Once you have submitted your application, you will be waiting a little while to hear back from the schools. If a school is interested in you, they will most likely contact you about doing an interview to proceed to the next stage of the admissions process. All students receive final decisions from schools around mid-April.

Having a Backup Plan

Admission to vet school can be very competitive, with about 50% of applicants accepted each year. It’s important to have a backup plan in case you change your mind miss the cut.

The good news is that the majors that prepare you for vet school also open up other excellent career opportunities. Many people who don’t want to go to vet school (but still want to work with animals!) become veterinary technicians. Vet techs provide veterinarians with technical support in all aspects of patient care and perform tasks such as taking blood samples, weighing animals, and sterilizing surgical instruments.

Additionally, becoming a certified vet tech requires less education than becoming a vet. It requires a two-year associates degree from an accredited program in veterinary technology and practical experience in a vet hospital. If you find that you would like to work with animals but that you are not interested in attending an extensive vet program, exploring how to become a vet tech is a great idea.

Dr. Nina Griffin gives an adorable dog an exam, which is a normal part of a veterinarian’s day!
(Brittany E. N. Murphy / Joint Base Langley-Eustis)

How to Become a Veterinarian: Vet School

Vet school is an exciting time where you will professionalize by diving into specific content knowledge and gaining more experience with clinical practice.

What Vet School Is Like

So what is vet school generally like? First and foremost, it’s usually an all-day commitment. According to Dr. Schott, a veterinarian at SGU, a typical day can last from 8 AM to 5 PM (much like a full-time job), and you’ll most likely spend that time jumping from lectures to labs. It might be tough for you to shoehorn in other responsibilities during school hours.

Depending on the term, you’ll either go directly to class for morning lectures or to one of your labs. If you go to class first, you will most likely have several lectures in a row with ten to fifteen minute breaks in between.

When you have breaks in between classes and labs, you may use the time to look over assigned readings, prepare for your next class session, or study for quizzes (which will be given regularly in addition to scheduled midterms and final exams). Also keep an eye out for clubs and organizations and find yourself attending some of those meetings throughout your week.

Vet School Course Curriculum

Lectures will be a good time to take notes and ask questions, while labs give you hands-on experience. While every curriculum is different, your two biggest classes your first year will likely be anatomy and physiology, and you may also have a small-animal anatomy lab. This may include dissection to learn about muscles, organs, and all the inner workings of animals. You may also be working in small groups, so labs can be a good time to get to know your classmates, form outside study groups, and discover how you best collaborate and learn with potential colleagues.

Other classes you can expect to take include neuroanatomy, general pathology, parasitology, and more. For example, at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine program, students are required to take “Foundation” courses. These include the animal body; neuroanatomy; general pathology; cell biology and genetics; function and dysfunction; host, agent, and disease; clinical rotations; and veterinary practice. Students in Cornell’s program can also take “Distribution Courses” that represent opportunities for students to pursue areas of interest in great depth or explore other professionalization aspects such as research and off campus clinical experience.

Along with your core requirements, you’ll also take classes in your specialty. For example, if you specialize in veterinary internal medicine, you’ll probably take classes like cardiology, neurology, and oncology. If you’re specializing in animal surgery, you may take orthopedics or soft tissue surgery courses.

Remember: the classes you take will all depend on your school, program, and specialization. so be sure to research those thoroughly before you apply.

You’ll learn many new skills in vet school, including how to perform surgery.

Succeeding in Vet School

Classes and labs will become more advanced and rigorous each year, building off of previous course knowledge, so it’s important to really engage with the information you’re learning. It’s not just about memorizing definitions—it’s also about really understanding the material. Seek out tutoring if you need extra help, and make sure you meet with your professors if you’re struggling.

And because you’re going to be very busy and consumed with vet school, it’s important to also give yourself breaks to avoid burning out. Depending on the school, you’ll need to maintain a certain minimum GPA, so make sure you are living a balanced lifestyle to help you stay on top of your coursework. Get involved with something outside of school that helps you decompress.

Graduating From Vet School

While the early years of vet school are mostly spent in the classroom and laboratory, you’ll get additional experience during clinical rotations, where you’ll treat patients under the supervision of a more experienced mentor. Clinicals are a chance for you to practice what you’ve learned.

In the last year of your program, you will need to focus on studying for your North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE). Administered by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA) since 2000, NAVLE s a requirement for licensure to practice veterinary medicine in all licensing jurisdictions in the US and Canada. The NAVLE consists of 360 clinically relevant multiple-choice questions. While you can retake the NAVLE if you don’t pass it the first time, the AAVME limits the number of times you can take the licensing exam. That’s why it’s important that you study early and often for the test.

Once you graduate, you will have a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD) degree and will be qualified to perform the duties of the profession. A number of veterinarians may go on to become board certified in a specialty area or may seek additional training in internship or residency programs. For example, a number of veterinarians also seek additional training in the form of an internship (usually one year) and/or residency (approximately 2-3 years) so they can become board certified in a specialty area.

Anyone who wants to practice veterinary medicine must be licensed in the state where they wish to practice. Some states may also require you to pass a state-specification exam to test your knowledge of state laws and regulations governing veterinary medicine. To maintain your license, you must also obtain continuing education, such as attending seminars, writing for vet publications, or pursuing further research. That means that even once you’ve graduated, you aren’t quite done with school!

Takeaways

Practicing veterinary medicine is an exciting career choice. You’ll help better the lives of animals every day. If you’re wondering how to become a vet or if the career is right for you, keep these things in mind:

There are many specialties you can pursue within veterinary medicine, including pet care, equine science, zoological medicine, reptile and amphibian practice, exotic companion mammal practice, and many more.

Becoming a vet isn’t for everyone. You have to be resilient and decisive in the face of emotional and physical challenges. You also have to be patient with those you work around, whether that’s vet techs, other vets, or pet owners.

Understand that it takes 8 to 10 years to become a vet.

If you think the career is right for you, the path starts in high school. Volunteer with animals, and take advanced biological science classes. Also, apply to colleges that will help you meet the required prerequisites for vet school and pursue hands-on opportunities.

Once in college, keep focusing on making good grades and staying involved. Give yourself enough time to complete the application for vet school and choose the best institution for your desired specialty.

Through high school, college, and vet school, remember to utilize the resources and mentors around you for support and guidance at every step.

While in vet school, be sure to stay on top of your work. You’ll need to pass the licensure exam (NAVLE) in order to practice veterinary medicine, and you’ll also need licensure in your state.

Veterinary medicine is a life-long commitment to helping other creatures. Even though becoming a vet takes work, you’ll be devoting your life to a noble and rewarding cause.

What’s Next?

You’ll need to write essays for both your college and vet school applications. Application essays are one of the most important aspects of your application because they give committees the chance to get to know you, your passions, and your interests. Learn what it takes to write a great application essay here.

We have guides that can help you ace all of your entrance exams. Check out this one for the SAT, this one for the ACT, and this one for the GRE. Remember: making great test grades will help you get into your dream school!

If you want to become a vet but struggle with biological science, it’s important that you start getting extra help now. We have guides to different topics in biological science, including an introduction to animal cells, a guide to mitosis, and an overview of enzyme function.

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