What Does It Take to Become a Veterinarian?

Ask any group of small children what they want to be when they grow up and chances are, at least a few will say “veterinarian.” Everyone recognizes their local veterinarian who cares for dogs, cats, and maybe horses or birds, but few people realize what it takes to become a veterinarian.

Like our counterparts in human medicine, veterinary medical school is a 4-year program after college. Some schools will allow students to begin the application process after their junior year in college. Most, but not all, applicants major in life science or pre-med and apply immediately during or after college. I, for example, applied for veterinary medical school after receiving dual engineering degrees and working as an engineer for 6 years. It was not the most direct route to becoming a veterinarian.
Senior veterinary medical students take a national board exam that tests a variety of subjects. Even students who only want to practice small animal medicine (dogs and cats) are still tested in horses, pigs, chickens, and cows. After national boards, students then take state licensing examinations to practice in the state in which they want to work.
Graduating veterinary students have a variety of career choices. They can go immediately into private practice and work with pets like dogs, cats, or horses. They can do production medicine and work with cattle farms, pig farms, or poultry farms. Veterinarians are used at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other agencies studying infectious diseases and developing medicines and vaccines. They can work with marine mammals or zoos. They can work with exotic animals.
Graduating veterinary students can also chose to compete for an internship and residency program in 22 different animal specialities. These specialists spend an additional 4 years in training and must pass a board certification. Veterinary specialists include veterinary behaviorists, cardiologists, dermatologists, ophthalmologists, sports medicine, and surgeons.
Veterinary medicine is truly a diverse and exciting career. There are so many opportunities for veterinarians in so many different aspects of our lives.
For more information please call 661-799-0655 or visit their website: www.scvc.com