Veterinarian Career Guide

What is a veterinarian?

A veterinarian is a medical professional who cares for the health and well-being of animals in much the same way a doctor does for people. They examine patients, diagnose diseases, perform surgery, treat sick and injured animals, and advise owners on the proper care and feeding of animals. A veterinarian may treat many different types of animals or may specialize in specific animal species, such as cats and dogs, horses, beef cattle, or birds. They use much of the same modern medical equipment and surgical tools as doctors, including X-rays, ultrasounds, and MRI equipment. These professionals can be found working in veterinary clinics, veterinary hospitals, zoos, laboratories, and on farms and ranches. They can also be found teaching in veterinary schools.  

Veterinarians, much like doctors, may perform a variety of different duties and handle many different responsibilities. The most common job functions of this medical professional in clinical practice include treating sick or injured animals, typically cats and dogs, by prescribing medication, dressing wounds, performing surgery, and setting broken bones. They advise animal owners on the feeding and general care of animals. They use diagnostic equipment such as ultrasound and radiography machines and interpret the resulting images. Other common duties include ordering lab tests, assisting in births, performing spays and neuters, performing dental cleanings and tooth extractions, and stitching up wounds. They also may perform humane euthanizations and provide comfort to grieving pet owners.

Veterinarians working in zoos, ranches, farms, stables, and aquariums perform many of the same routine procedures on specific species of animals like cattle, horses, pigs, aquatic mammals, birds, or exotic mammals. 

Qualifications and eligibility

To become a veterinarian, you will need to complete a bachelor’s degree, typically in pre-veterinary medicine, biology, or zoology. Veterinary schools have specific undergraduate course prerequisites, so it is important to make sure you check the requirements for the schools you are interested in attending. Some commonly required courses are chemistry, biology, zoology, physiology, microbiology, and anatomy.

It is highly recommended that you also perform volunteer or part-time work at a local animal hospital or shelter while completing your undergraduate studies. 

After graduation, you may be required to take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE) before applying to vet schools. Requirements vary by state. Veterinary school is a 4-year doctoral program. You must complete your doctoral degree at an accredited veterinary medical school. Veterinary school training consists of laboratory and classroom work as well as clinical work, where students gain hands-on experience treating and examining animals. Veterinary school is often regarded as being more difficult than medical school, as students must learn the physiology of many species instead of only one. Many students perform internships while attending school in local zoos, animal farms, veterinary hospitals, and clinics.

After completing veterinary school, you are awarded a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree. You then must sit for a state licensing exam before you can practice in that state. Each state has its own licensing board, so check in the state where you live for specific licensure requirements. Most states require that you pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE). The exam consists of analyzing injuries, treating diseases, laboratory procedures, and diagnostic imaging. 

The American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP) offers board certifications on the care of a variety of animal species, such as avian practice, canine and feline practice, equine practice, and swine health management. The ABVP credential demonstrates your advanced knowledge, skill, and competency in the care of a specific species of animal. Certification is not required, and most general practice medical professionals are not board-certified. Residency requirements for most specialties take up to three years to complete.   

Beyond your education, you will also need skills such as animal handling, excellent dexterity, hand-eye coordination, excellent eyesight, strong analytical and diagnostic skills, good organization skills, and solid communication and interpersonal skills. Veterinarians must be able to explain to animal owners issues, diagnoses, and treatments in terms they can understand. They also work with a staff of assistants and need to be able to communicate effectively with them. They must also have good technical skills as they take x-rays and use ultrasound, MRI, and CT scanner equipment.  Problem-solving skills are essential to diagnose patient conditions and implementing the right treatment plans. 

Work environment

Most veterinarians work in veterinary clinics and typically treat household pets. Others may work in laboratories, university classrooms, the government, or zoos. Others work on farms, at stables, or on ranches. Some may work in the wild or for food preparation inspectors. The environment an individual works in depends on the types of species they treat and their type of veterinary specialty. 

Veterinarians in clinics work inside, treating patients, performing surgeries, and doing paperwork. Those who work outside, typically treating horses and other livestock, usually travel in all types of weather to farms and stables. They may have to perform surgeries under unsanitary conditions. Those in research work in labs. Some inspect slaughterhouses and food-processing plants and write reports on their findings.  

Working as a veterinarian can sometimes be stressful and emotionally draining as they deal with sick and often frightened animals and nervous owners. They may be exposed to diseases, bites, scratches, and other injuries, and may wear gloves and masks when examining patients. Animal clinics can be noisy and full of distinct animal smells, especially those that board animals.

Typical work hours

Veterinarians in clinical practice typically work long and erratic hours. Some work nights or weekends to accommodate patient needs and they may have to respond to emergencies at any time. Those who work in labs or for inspection companies typically work a regular 40-hour week.  

Position trends

The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the overall employment of veterinarians will increase by 19% from 2021 to 2031, which is much faster than the average for all occupations. An average of 4,800 openings are projected each year. The trend of owners spending more on their pets is expected to continue, as is expanding treatment options.

This combined with a growing pet population is expected to drive the employment growth of these medical professionals. Advancements in veterinary medicine allow veterinarians to offer many of the same types of services doctors provide for humans, including cancer treatments and kidney transplants.