Understanding how to be a veterinarian starts with more than just schooling; it’s about committing to the welfare of animals and the communities that depend on them. From education to practice, each step builds the foundation for a respected career.
Veterinary medicine is a growing field. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the employment of veterinarians is expected to grow 19 percent from 2023 to 2033, much faster than the average for all occupations. This growth is driven by the rising demand for pet care, advancements in animal medicine, and an increased focus on food safety and public health. For students considering this career, the outlook is not only rewarding but also stable.
Why People Choose to Become Veterinarians
A love for animals inspires many to pursue veterinary medicine, yet passion by itself won’t carry you through. The profession requires years of formal education, discipline, and a willingness to handle complex medical problems. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), veterinarians are healthcare professionals who diagnose, treat, and prevent illness in animals, while also protecting public health through food safety and disease control.
Veterinarians do more than treat pets. They may work with livestock, exotic species, wildlife, and even conduct research that impacts human medicine. If you are considering this path, it is important to know that your day-to-day work can range from comforting a worried pet owner to conducting surgery on a farm animal.
How to Be a Veterinarian
In this guide, you’ll learn exactly what it takes to become a veterinarian, from high school all the way through licensing and building your career. We’ll break it down into 10 detailed steps so you know what to expect at each stage.
Step 1: Build a Strong Academic Foundation in High School
Your journey begins well before college. If you’re in high school and thinking about veterinary medicine, your best move is to focus on science and math. Take biology, chemistry, physics, and algebra seriously. These subjects are the backbone of all future veterinary coursework.
Colleges value good grades, but they also want to see initiative. Volunteering at a shelter, shadowing a vet, or working with animals in a kennel or stable can set you apart. This early exposure helps you understand what veterinarians really do, and it shows future schools you’re serious.
Many successful applicants start tracking their animal experience hours as early as high school. Keep a simple log. It will help when you apply to veterinary school later.
Step 2: Choose the Right College Major
You must earn a bachelor’s degree before becoming eligible to apply for veterinary school. There is no required “pre-vet” major, but most students choose biology, animal science, zoology, or biochemistry. These majors include the courses that veterinary schools expect.
Most vet schools require:
- General biology (with lab)
- General and organic chemistry (with lab)
- Physics (with lab)
- Microbiology
- Genetics
- Statistics
- English or communications
Some schools also want animal nutrition or physiology. Before you choose classes, review the prerequisites of a few veterinary schools you’re interested in. They can vary.
Aim for a GPA of at least 3.5. Admissions committees are competitive. Strong grades, especially in science courses, help your chances.
Step 3: Get Meaningful Animal and Veterinary Experience
Veterinary programs require you to have practical, hands-on experience working with animals. This includes both animal care and shadowing licensed veterinarians.
There are two types of experience:
Animal experience
Working with animals in general. This includes farms, shelters, kennels, wildlife centers, zoos, and research labs.
Veterinary experience
Working under a licensed veterinarian. This can include shadowing, assisting in clinics, or helping with surgeries.
Most applicants have several hundred hours of each by the time they apply. Some competitive programs expect 1,000+ hours. Keep a detailed record with dates, locations, duties, and supervisor names. You’ll need to report these hours in your application.
Step 4: Build Relationships for Strong Recommendations
Strong letters of recommendation play an important role in your veterinary school application. You’ll usually need:
- At least one letter from a veterinarian you’ve worked with
- One or two letters from college professors (science faculty preferred)
- Possibly one letter from an employer or volunteer supervisor
These letters should speak to your work ethic, communication skills, maturity, and commitment to veterinary medicine. This is why building genuine relationships during your animal experience and coursework matters. Don’t just show up, be reliable, ask questions, and stay engaged.
Step 5: Apply to Veterinary School
Once you’re in your final year of college (or shortly after), it’s time to apply to veterinary school. Most U.S. schools use the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS). The application includes:
- Your transcript
- A personal statement (usually about 3,000–5,000 characters)
- Your experience hours
- GRE scores (some schools are dropping this)
- Letters of recommendation
- Your list of preferred schools
Veterinary school is competitive. In recent years, the average acceptance rate in the U.S. has been around 10–15 percent. Applying to multiple schools increases your chances. Some applicants take a “gap year” after college to improve their experience or GPA before applying.
Step 6: Complete Veterinary School and Earn Your DVM
Veterinary school lasts four years and awards you a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree upon completion. This is your professional vet degree.
The structure is usually:
Years 1–2
Classroom and lab courses. You’ll study anatomy, physiology, pathology, pharmacology, parasitology, immunology, microbiology, toxicology, and public health.
Year 3
More advanced coursework and clinical skills labs. You start learning how to diagnose, treat, and manage cases.
Year 4
Clinical rotations. You work full-time in a veterinary teaching hospital, rotating through small animal medicine, surgery, emergency care, large animal medicine, anesthesia, radiology, and more.
Some schools let you choose elective rotations in areas like wildlife medicine, shelter medicine, or equine care.
You’ll also take skills assessments throughout school to make sure you’re ready for real-world practice.
Step 7: Pass the NAVLE and Get Licensed
In the U.S. and Canada, you must pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) to practice legally. It’s a comprehensive exam with over 300 questions covering all major species and systems.
You take the NAVLE in your final year of vet school or shortly after graduating. Passing it is required in all U.S. states and Canadian provinces.
Certain states also require a separate law exam. Once you pass, you can apply for a license in your chosen state, and even hold multiple licenses if you meet each state’s rules.
Step 8: Consider an Internship or Residency
Not all veterinarians choose to specialize, but some do. If you want to become a veterinary surgeon, internist, oncologist, dermatologist, or other specialist, you’ll need:
- A one-year internship (clinical experience after graduation)
- A residency program (2–4 years) in your chosen specialty
- Passing a board certification exam through a recognized specialty college (like the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine)Even if you don’t specialize, some new grads choose a one-year internship in general practice or emergency medicine to build confidence and experience.
Step 9: Start Your Career in Your Chosen Field
Once licensed, you can start practicing. Veterinarians work in a wide range of settings:
- Private practice: small animal clinics, large animal clinics, mixed animal practices
- Emergency and specialty hospitals
- Shelter medicine
- Zoo and wildlife medicine
- Public health and food safety (government roles)
- Research (animal health, pharmaceuticals, vaccine development)
- Academia (teaching and research at universities)
Your salary, hours, and lifestyle will vary depending on your field. According to the BLS, the median salary for veterinarians in 2023 was about $110,000, but specialists and those in urban areas can earn significantly more.
Step 10: Commit to Ongoing Education and Personal Well-Being
Veterinary medicine is a constantly evolving field. In most states, veterinarians must complete continuing education (CE) annually or biennially to keep their license active. CE can involve courses, workshops, conferences, or online programs.
Beyond professional development, personal well-being is critical. Burnout and compassion fatigue are real concerns in this field. You’ll face emotional situations, financial stress (student loans are often over $150,000), and long hours.
Many veterinarians join support networks, peer groups, or professional organizations like the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) to stay connected and supported. Building a sustainable work-life balance is essential for a long and healthy career.
Veterinary Medicine Is a Lifelong Commitment
Becoming a veterinarian is more than checking boxes on an education path or securing a license. It’s about shaping a career where curiosity, resilience, and empathy matter just as much as medical knowledge. What makes this profession unique is how deeply it connects science with everyday life; every decision you make can affect an animal, as well as the people and communities who depend on them.
If you choose this path, you’re stepping into a role that challenges you to keep learning, to adapt, and to balance compassion with tough choices. It’s demanding, but for the right person, it’s also one of the most meaningful ways to spend a lifetime.