How Do I Become a Veterinarian?

If you’ve always wanted to work with animals, you may be wondering, “How do I become a vet?” Pursuing your passion for animal health is a significant choice. It elevates your love for animals into a highly sought-after profession.  

Becoming a vet requires a challenging course of study, rigorous testing, and hands-on experience. You’ll have to earn an undergraduate degree, apply to and attend a vet school, and then pass licensing exams before you can call yourself a vet. Each step along the way is intended to prepare you for this rewarding career path.  

Understanding the Role of a Veterinarian

Veterinarians are responsible for the health and well-being of animals, from diagnosis and treatment to surgery and preventative care. Pursuing a specialty enables veterinarians to achieve a high level of proficiency and skill in caring for a diverse range of patients.  

You can specialize in:

• Small animal medicine
• Large animal medicine
• Exotic animal medicine

Or one of 22 specific areas of medicine:

• Surgery
• Internal medicine
• Dermatology
• Cardiology
• Oncology
• Emergency and critical care

Vets dedicate their careers to animal welfare, encompassing both the physical and mental well-being of animals.  

Most veterinarians work in private practice, such as veterinary clinics and animal hospitals. Some vets are also involved in the conservation and management of wild animal populations, and research and education in the field of veterinary science.  

Vets may also work in zoos and aquariums, on farms and ranches, at animal shelters, in research labs, and at government agencies such as the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Some even work in national parks or racetracks to ensure animals are healthy and treated ethically.

Educational Pathways to Veterinary Medicine

Although there isn’t a specific undergraduate major required to become a vet, you will need to complete a pre-vet track. It’s quite common for pre-vet students to pursue their undergraduate degree in a science-related field such as biology, animal science, or zoology.  

Undergraduate Courses

Regardless of your undergraduate major, there are specific courses that will be considered prerequisites to applying for veterinary school, and these vary by institution.

Generally, you will need a strong foundation in math and science, as well as English and social sciences. Other key courses are:

• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics
• Biochemistry
• Microbiology
• Genetics
• Algebra
• Trigonometry

Some vet schools also require upper-level biomedical courses, such as animal nutrition or cell biology. Depending on your career path, what you learn in these courses will be a vital part of your practice.

Application Requirements

In addition to the completion of prerequisite undergraduate courses, you should have a strong GPA, especially in your science-based courses. GPA requirements vary by school, and some schools may place more emphasis on holistic reviews. This may also give schools the right to admit (or reject) applicants with scores above or below these standards.

You’ll also need the following items to accompany your vet school application:

• Standardized test scores - many veterinary schools accept either the GRE or the MCAT.
• Letters of recommendation - ask your science professors or vet mentors to help strengthen your application.

In the United States and at schools recognized by the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges^™ (AAVMA) abroad, the Veterinary Medical College Application Service (VMCAS) is a common application that most schools accept. Many institutions also have a supplemental application that’s specific to them.

When a school accepts your application, you may be invited for an interview to ensure a good fit. These interviews may vary by school but usually cover core competencies, personal qualities, and a commitment to the profession.

Completing Your DVM

Once you complete your interview and are accepted as a student into your Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) program, you’ll typically spend the next four years working toward your degree.  

At Ross Vet, the DVM program is taught year-round with three start dates. You can begin your program in September, January, or May. Students in our program can graduate in as little as 3.25 years from our campus in St. Kitts.  

Your first three years are intensive coursework in the sciences, as well as studying diseases and disease prevention. Because DVM programs emphasize hands-on learning and practical experience in the field, you’ll spend your final year in clinical rotations at facilities like animal hospitals and clinics.  

Licensure and Certification Requirements

During your final year of study, you will take the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination^® (NAVLE^®). Beyond the national exam, practicing veterinarians must be licensed in the state in which they plan to work. State-specific licensure requirements include graduating from an accredited veterinary school, passing the NAVLE, and sometimes a state-specific exam.

If you didn’t attend an AVMA-accredited vet school and want to practice in the United States, you’ll have to follow a different protocol. You’ll need to go through the Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG ) process, which involves four steps.  

1. Application
2. English language assessment
3. Basic and Clinical Science Examination (BCSE)
4. Clinical Proficiency Examination (CPE)

Once you’ve gone through these steps, you can register for the NAVLE and be considered for licensure in the US.  

Gaining Practical Experience

Internships and externships are both excellent ways to gain hands-on learning experiences that will develop essential skills and advance future career prospects.  

• Internships give you additional hands-on experience in a structured, longer-term setting. Typically, you’ll spend anywhere from several weeks to a full semester working in a vet’s office or clinic.
• Externships are short-term, observational placements that allow you to see what the profession is like. You won’t participate in the daily operations or procedures, but you’ll gain valuable insights.

Networking or connecting professionally with those in the field through internships, externships, volunteering, or other means could lead to more shadowing opportunities, strong career references, or even a job after graduation.  

Another option for hands-on experience would be to work with clinics as a veterinary assistant. This offers an opportunity for paid employment while allowing you to put your skills to the test.  

Career Opportunities and Specializations

A DVM degree offers the opportunity to pursue a wide range of career paths. You could even choose to follow multiple paths.  

General Practice

• Routine care
• Vaccinations
• Treatment of sick animals

Specializations

• Surgery
• Emergency and critical care
• Internal medicine

Emerging Fields

• Exotic animals
• Equine medicine
• Sports medicine and rehabilitation
• Veterinary nutrition
• Oncology
• Cardiology
• Neurology

The average cost of vet school in the United States ranges from $150,000 to $350,000. They can be funded through grants, loans, and scholarships. That said, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, veterinary employment is projected to increase by 10% between 2024 and 2034. It also reports the national annual salaries ranged from $72,360 to $155,230.¹

Why Choose Ross University School of Veterinary Medicine?

Ross Vet’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) curriculum graduates are prepared for diverse career opportunities.  

Our program goes beyond textbooks, and you'll develop the essential skills to build trust with both animals and people. During your  time at Ross Vet, you’ll:  

• Dive into hands-on learning that gets you comfortable in real-life scenarios
• Use the latest technology to bring veterinary medicine to life
• Study the hottest topics and trends in the field

Ross Vet invests in your success as a DVM student and beyond. As a preclinical student studying on St. Kitts, you’ll have access to modern facilities and technology, student clubs to extend your learning, and the support from our faculty and staff throughout your studies.  

Throughout your clinical year, faculty at our partner institutions provide rigorous mentorship and evaluation. They’ll ensure you develop not only the essential clinical skills but also the professional confidence to excel in your chosen veterinary path.

Our Ross Vet graduates are proof that there is a clear path toward earning your DVM. Our curriculum is designed to equip you with the veterinary skills and knowledge necessary to prepare you for practice in the U.S., Canada, and beyond.

Learn more about why students choose Ross Vet today!

¹ Bureau of Labor Statistics (as of May 2023). Percentile wage estimates are based on the 10th-75th percentile. The 10th percentile figure reasonably represents entry level wages. BLS wages are national estimates and are not specific to graduates of Ross Vet. Wages may vary by state or region. No guarantee is made that a person who enrolls at Ross Vet will obtain a job or earn the estimated salaries.