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How to Become A Veterinarian and Resources for Veterinary Students

Many people consider a profession working with animals, however, the process of becoming a veterinarian can be a daunting one. 

Below you will find customized suggestions to guide you through each of the stages. 

Even if you ultimately decide a veterinary career is not for you, time spent learning about animals, health, and customer service are all useful tools in any future career.

School Required to become a Veterinarian:

  • College (4 years) + Veterinary School (4 years) = 8 yrs minimum after High School

Some Additional Options after your DVM: 

  • Internship (1 year) – for gaining deeper knowledge and experience before practice
  • Residency (~ 3 years) – for formally specializing in one area and to become boarded
  • Masters (2 years) – to conduct research or specialize in a research field
  • Example: Masters of Public Health / Masters of Toxicology
  • PhD (~3-5 years) – to become a researcher/ veterinary instructor
Click the button
below to learn more:
Utah Practices
Offering Shadowing

Customized Suggestions:

  • Goal: Focus on school and enjoying learning
    • Science, math, and communication skills are key
    • Solid grades
    • College prep course load, including advanced/AP classes and local college courses
  • =Goal: Spend time with animals and veterinary professionals
    • Pet/farm sitting
    • Caring for/training your pets and livestock at home
    • Volunteering or working at veterinary clinics, shelters, farms, rescues, etc. 
  • Goal: Follow your interests
    • There are lots of other jobs that involve working with animals, do your best to explore as many options as possible. Be open to finding a career that might be a surprise to you. 
    • Other animal jobs:
      • Veterinary Technician/Nurse
      • Animal Nutritionist
      • Farmer / Farm Worker
      • Artificial Insemination Technician / Animal Breeder
      • Zoo Keeper / Animal Trainer
      • Wildlife Biologist / Rehabilitator
      • Butcher / Meat Processor
      • Dog Day Care / Dog Walker
      • Animal Behaviorist
      • Veterinary Technician
      • Researcher / Lab Technician
      • The list goes on and on!
    • Pursue your interests outside of animals
      • Extracurricular activities
      • Volunteering opportunities
      • Anything that demonstrates breadth and depth of your dedication and achievement
  • Goal: Get accepted into a reputable college
    • Preferably one that offers all the pre-requisite courses needed for veterinary school (see “college students” section)
    • Earning good grades at a college with a strong educational reputation is worth more than getting a 4.0 from a less academically rigorous institution.
    • Solid ACT/SAT scores are necessary to complete this step
    • Consider the finances. Veterinary school is expensive, and undergraduate and veterinary school debt  may affect future repayment and employment options.
  • Documentation:
    • Keep track of two types of experiences:
      • 1) Hours spent working with animals
      • 2) Hours spent shadowing veterinarians
    • Find Utah practices willing to accept high school students, by clicking here
    • It does not matter if these experiences are paid or not

  • Goal: Complete veterinary prerequisite coursework
    • Each veterinary school has different specific prerequisite requirements, or courses that must be taken prior to applying.
    • If your college does not have all the courses, you can contact the admissions offices of the veterinary schools you wish to apply to and ask them how to meet these requirements. 
  • Goal: Learn how to study efficiently and earn high grades, especially in prerequisite courses
    • Take courses you find interesting and exciting in addition to the prerequisites. 
    • Many pre-vet students choose to major in biology, chemistry, math, or animal science, but there is nothing stopping you from majoring in anything you want, as long as you fulfill the required coursework. 
  • Goal: Take advantage of your resources
    • Reach out to your schools’ graduate student advising program
    • Some schools have formal pre-vet clubs, curriculum, and faculty that can help with preparation and the application process.
    • Most schools have a standardized way they produce letters of recommendation for health professional schools, reach out to these groups early in your time in school to discover what their process is
  • Goal: Take the Graduate Record Exam (GRE)
    • Take the time to study
    • Your initial veterinary school assessment is based on the combination of your scores on the GRE and your GPA, so this is a good way to boost your application. 
  • Goal: Explore various parts of veterinary medicine
    • Find a list of Utah practitioners willing to accept undergraduate students by clicking here
    • Veterinary schools often prefer applicants who have shadowed multiple types of veterinarians, such as: 
      • Large Animal / Production Animal
      • Equine
      • Companion Animal
      • Exotics
      • Shelter Medicine
      • Specialties (surgery, internal medicine, lab animal, cardiology, ophthalmology, neurology, dermatology, radiology, pathology, clinical pathology, sports medicine and rehab, etc)
      • Regulatory
      • Public Health
    • Veterinary schools require letters of recommendation from veterinarians, so try to spend a good deal of time with at least one practitioner, so they are familiar with you and can write you a supportive letter. 
    • It is great if you have an idea of what type of veterinarian you would like to be when applying to schools, but it is not necessary and commonly changes.
    • Subscribe to trade publications, especially if you are hoping to do anything that is not companion animal focused.
  • Goal: Develop your soft skills
    • Be active in your community
    • Work on communication and leadership skills
    • Establish work-life balance
    • Take advantage of opportunities as they are presented to you
    • Be well-rounded
  • Goal: Get comfortable with the financials
    • Veterinary school is an extremely competitive and expensive endeavor, so it is important that you are prepared for the financial implications of this career path
  • Goal: Decide You Are Going to Become A Veterinarian
    • The veterinary school application process is designed to ensure that only folks who are fully committed to becoming veterinarians take out those massive student loans. 
    • There is no shame in beginning this process and deciding that veterinary medicine is not the right choice for you. If every small child who dreams of being a veterinarian some day actually became one, we would not have enough workers for the rest of the economy!

 

  • Goal: Determine what type of medicine you would like to practice
    • Take advantage of your summers, school breaks and vacations to schedule shadowing or jobs. Many practices hire new graduates who have previously interned with them
    • Consider if you want to continue schooling after veterinary school
      • Internship 
      • Residency
      • Dual Degree (PhD, MPH, etc)
  • Goal: Figure out your loan repayment plan
    • Things will change, but have an idea what you will be paying, so you can plan for a lifestyle that you are going to be comfortable with after graduation
  • Goal: Maintain work/life balance
    • Becoming a veterinarian can be an all-consuming pursuit, but do not let it become your defining factor. Cultivate the skills needed to achieve a balanced life
  • Goal: Participate in student organizations at your school, and join veterinary organizations
    • SAVMA and leadership
    • Clubs
    • Volunteer and Career Development
    • Specialty areas
      • Species
      • Skills and Knowledge
      • Habitat Focused
      • Specialties
    • Identity and Belonging
    • Social and Recreational