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Veterinarian

Did You Know?

A veterinarian's patients can't say where it hurts, so vets rely on observation, body language, lab tests, X-rays, and sometimes intuition to figure out what's wrong.

INDUSTRY FACTS

The Numbers Behind the Career

86,400

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, there were about 86,400 veterinarians in the U.S. in 2024.

3,000

About 3,000 openings for veterinarians are projected annually over the next decade.

$125,510

The median salary for veterinarians was $125,510 in 2024.

EDUCATION & CERTIFICATION
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Education & Certification

To become a veterinarian, you must earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree at an accredited college of veterinary medicine. A veterinary medicine program generally takes 4 years to complete and includes classroom, laboratory, and clinical components. Veterinarians must be licensed in order to practice in the United States. Licensing requirements vary by state, but prospective veterinarians in all states must complete an accredited veterinary program and pass a qualifying exam.

To prepare...

Take strong high school courses in math, anatomy/physiology, and biology to prepare.

Participate in school labs and projects that involve research, data collection, or problem-solving, just like veterinarians do.

Earn a bachelor’s degree in biology or agriculture if you are interested in working with larger animals.

CAREER SPOTLIGHTS

Spotlight: Explore the Life of a Veterinarian

James Herriot

James Herriot

Learn More
Dr. Temple Grandin

Dr. Temple Grandin

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Louis Pasteur

Louis Pasteur

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CURATED LEARNING RESOURCES

Explore more resources for a future Veterinarian

Toy / Game / Kit
Suture Practice Kit for Medicine and Vet Students, Suture Kit for Suture Practice with Multilanguage Elearning, Suture Kit Practice Medical Student, Practice Suture Kit, Suturing Kit, Suture Kits

Suture Practice Kit for Medicine and Vet Students, Suture Kit for Suture Practice with Multilanguage Elearning, Suture Kit Practice Medical Student, Practice Suture Kit, Suturing Kit, Suture Kits

Why We Picked It

This professional-quality suture kit with a realistic silicone pad, stainless steel instruments, and multilanguage video tutorials gives students hands-on surgical stitching practice.

Career Connection

Veterinary surgeons suture incisions, repair wounds, and close surgical sites on animal patients, and this kit introduces the same steady-hand technique and suture patterns that vet school surgical labs teach.

Toy / Game / Kit
Little Tikes Vet Toys for Kids - My First Pet Doctor Checkup Pretend Play Set Veterinarian Playset - Over 15 Accessories, Multicolor Interactive Medical Vet Clinic

Little Tikes Vet Toys for Kids - My First Pet Doctor Checkup Pretend Play Set Veterinarian Playset - Over 15 Accessories, Multicolor Interactive Medical Vet Clinic

Why We Picked It

This interactive vet playset with 15+ accessories lets kids examine, diagnose, and treat their plush patients while building empathy and problem-solving through animal care play.

Career Connection

Veterinarians perform physical examinations, assess symptoms, and develop treatment plans for every patient, and this playset walks kids through the same structured clinical exam process real vets follow.

Book
Louis Pasteur (Little People, BIG DREAMS, 96)

Louis Pasteur (Little People, BIG DREAMS, 96)

Maria Isabel Sanchez Vegara

Why We Picked It

This beautifully illustrated story shows how young Louis Pasteur's fascination with germs and microscopes grew into discoveries that revolutionized medicine and saved countless lives.

Career Connection

Pasteur's germ theory and vaccine research form the scientific foundation of veterinary medicine, and every vet who vaccinates animals or sterilizes equipment uses principles he established.

Continue Your Journey

Keep exploring everything this career has to offer.