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Veterinarian Schooling - Fast Facts

Welcome to your Veterinarian Schooling source! We have everything you need to make your life easier as you begin your career in the veterinary field. State specific training requirements, a step-by-step hiring process, potential employers and interviews to help you get hired are just some of the helpful things you'll find here.

Hello! Since you’re reading this right now, there’s a good chance you’ve been wondering about what it takes to become a veterinarian. If so, then you’ve come to the right place! Just scroll down or click on one of the occupations below to see a general description, including education requirements, state requirements, average length of study, average income, etc.


Veterinarian

Education Requirements:
  1. Bachelor’s degree – Not required by many programs, but highly recommended due to the high competition for admission to veterinarian graduate schools.
  2. Certain undergraduate credits required (45-90 credits)
    • most in Sciences like:
      • Animal Biology
      • Vertebrate Embryology
      • Microbiology
      • Animal Nutrition
      • Zoology
      • Inorganic and Organic Chemistry
      • Systemic Physiology
  3. Admission into school accredited with American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA)
    • only 28 schools in 26 states in US (LINK)
    • competition high – acceptance rate only 33%
    • Graduate school Exam
      • Graduate Record Examination (GRE) – required by 22 schools
      • Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT) – required by 4 schools
      • Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) – required by 2 schools
    • Veterinary and animal experience highly recommended. Especially formal experience, such as work with
      veterinarians or scientists in clinics, agribusiness, research, or some
      area of health science
  4. Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM)
License Requirements:
  1. US license – North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE)
  2. State license – varies by state (LINK)
  3. Continuing education requirements – varies by state (LINK)
Average Salary: $89,574
Job Outlook (2008-2018): Excellent - 19,700 new positions
Employment Change (2008-2018): expected to grow 33% (faster than average)


Veterinary Assistant

Education Requirements:

usually a High school diploma

License Requirements:

none

Average Salary: $28,412
Job Outlook (2008-2018): Excellent - 25,500 new job openings
Employment Change (2008-2018): expected to grow 36% (faster than average)


Veterinary Technician

Education Requirements:

2-year associate degree in veterinary technology from an AVMA-accredited community college

  • 160 2-year veterinary technology programs in 45 States
License Requirements:
  1. State exam – usually the National Veterinary Technician (NVT) exam
  2. Employers recommend American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
    (AALAS) certification for those seeking employment in a research
    facility
    • Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) – lowest level
    • Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) – middle level
    • Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) – highest level
Average Salary: $35,792
Job Outlook (2008-2018): Excellent - 28,500 new positions
Employment Change (2008-2018): expected to grow 36% (faster than average)


Veterinary Technologist

Education Requirements:

4-year bachelor’s degree in veterinary technology from an AVMA-accredited school

  • 20 schools in US have 4-year veterinary technology programs
License Requirements:
  1. State exam – usually the National Veterinary Technician (NVT) exam
  2. Employers recommend American Association for Laboratory Animal Science
    (AALAS) certification for those seeking employment in a research
    facility
    • Assistant Laboratory Animal Technician (ALAT) – lowest level
    • Laboratory Animal Technician (LAT) – middle level
    • Laboratory Animal Technologist (LATG) – highest level
Average Salary: $35,792
Job Outlook (2008-2018): Excellent - 28,500 new positions
Employment Change (2008-2018): expected to grow 36% (faster than average)

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