How to Become a Veterinarian

Would you like to be one of the more than 90,000 veterinarians in the United States? Veterinarians are animal lovers who work to protect the health of animals and humans. They generally have a strong science background, but also need good communication skills. This page will walk you through the process of how to become a veterinarian.
Becoming a Veterinarian Tips
1. Get animal related work experience
2. Maintain a high GPA in college
3. Develop a relationship with a practicing vet who will write you a recommendation
4. Have a back-up plan, as the average acceptance rate to vet school is 43%

Introduction
- Becoming licensed as a veterinarian typically requires eight years of study after high school, followed by a state licensing exam. Further education and exams may be required if you're interested in a specialty such as surgery or ophthalmology.
Step 1: Prepare in High School
- While your formal veterinary training usually won't begin until after you've received a bachelor's degree, there are steps you can take to begin to prepare for a career as a veterinarian while still in high school.AVMA: The Road to Becoming a Veterinarian
1. Take a rigorous curriculum that includes science, mathematics, and biology.AVMA: The Road to Becoming a Veterinarian
2. Participate in animal-related extra-curricular activities such as 4-H, volunteering at a local humane society, or working on a farm.Purdue University: Office of Student Services and Admissions
3. Get a job working for a veterinarian, or participate in a veterinary job shadowing program.Purdue University: Office of Student Services and Admissions
4. Talk to your guidance counselor about identifying combined programs that admit you to veterinary school at the same time you are admitted to college.Purdue University: Office of Student Services and Admissions
Step 2: Get a Bachelor's Degree
- Admission to veterinary school is extremely competitive. Only about 2,000 - 2,500 students are accepted to veterinary school in the United States each year.AVMA: Veterinary Education When selecting your college major, you must ensure you meet all the admissions requirements for vet school, but you'll also want to make sure that you are prepared for a career other than veterinary medicine in case you are not accepted.Purdue University: The Educational Path to Becoming a Veterinarian...
1. While each veterinary school has specific requirements, college courses taken to prepare for veterinary school usually include social sciences, humanities, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics.AVMA: The Road to Becoming a Veterinarian
2. Typical preveterinary majors include biology, animal science, wildlife science, or biochemistry.Purdue University: The Educational Path to Becoming a Veterinarian at Purdue University
Step 3: Take the GREs or MCATs
- Veterinary schools do require standardized test scores as part of the admissions process, although each school requires a different test. Consequently, it's important to confirm which test the school you're applying to requires.
1. Most schools require the GRE (Graduate Record Examination)AVMA: The Road to Becoming a Veterinarian
2. Some accept the MCAT (Medical College Admissions Test).AVMA: The Road to Becoming a Veterinarian
Step 4: Apply to Veterinary School
- The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) has accredited 28 veterinary schools in the United States (compared to 125 medical schools), four in Canada, and nine in other countries.AVMA: The Road to Becoming a Veterinarian University of California at Berkley: Being a Veterinarian Most vet schools are part of a state university system, and, consequently, reserve the majority of their spots for in-state students. Since not all states have veterinary schools, those states without enter into contracts with schools that do so their students qualify as being "in-state" for admissions purposes. Although you can apply to most schools as an out-of-state student, it will be much more difficult to gain admission given the residency preferences.
1. Determine the veterinary school that gives preference to your state of residence.
2. Investigate the admission requirements for the school or schools you are applying to, and make sure you have satisfied all of them.
3. Schools may give preference to students with related work experience, so consider using your vacations to work in the field.AVMA: Veterinary Education
4. Register with the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS), which handles web-based applications for most schools.AAVMC: Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS)
5. Prepare a personal statement that explains why you want to become a veterinarian.Purdue University: The Educational Path to Becoming a Veterinarian at Purdue University This essay should be as specific as possible, describing the area of veterinary medicine that most interests you. If you can convincingly explain why you want to work with horses, in public health, or with small animals, for example, it will create a more compelling case for your admission.University of California at Berkley: Being a Veterinarian
6. Ask for letters of recommendation. You'll generally need three, one of which must be from a veterinarian who can evaluate your skills and abilities.Purdue University: The Educational Path to Becoming a Veterinarian at Purdue University
7. The final step in the application process will generally be an interview with the school's admissions committee.Purdue University: The Educational Path to Becoming a Veterinarian at Purdue University
Step 5: Complete Veterinary School
- The four years of veterinary education necessary to become a veterinarian include approximately 4,000 hours of both classroom and clinical work. Most of the classroom work consists of laboratory sciences.AVMA: Veterinary Education
1. While each school is a bit different, the first two years of vet school will usually be spent studying anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, microbiology and related topics.AVMA: Veterinary Education
2. During the last two years, students gain clinical experience treating patients and dealing with owners, while being supervised by licensed veterinarians in the school's clinic.AVMA: Veterinary Education
3. Classroom instruction during the last two years usually relates directly to topics students will be using in their clinical work, such as diseases, diagnostic and clinical pathology, obstetrics, radiology, clinical medicine, anesthesiology, and surgery.AVMA: Veterinary Education
4. During the course of their education, vet students will generally also take courses in public health, preventive medicine, toxicology, clinical nutrition, professional ethics, and business practices.AVMA: Veterinary Education
Step 6: Become Licensed
- After successfully earning the D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine), most states require graduates to pass a licensing exam before beginning to practice. Some veterinarians go on to earn additional certifications in a specialty such as dentistry, surgery or pathology.AVMA: Veterinary Education
Step 7: Get a Job
- 70% of veterinarians work in private practices providing patient care to small animals; however, there are also opportunities to work in zoos, at racetracks, and in laboratories. Veterinarians also work in public health, protecting humans against diseases carried by animals. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Veterinarians
Conclusion
- A successful veterinarian will have the desire to care for animals, and the ability to communicate effectively with their owners. After completing veterinary school and becoming licensed to practice, a veterinarian will join a profession with good job prospects. In 2006, most veterinarians earned between $56,450 and $94,880 a year.Bureau of Labor Statistics: Veterinarians
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