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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

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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
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
I Want to Be a Veterinarian: A My Community I Can Read (I Can Read Level 1)

I Want to Be a Veterinarian: A My Community I Can Read (I Can Read Level 1)

Laura Driscoll

Why We Picked It

Simple sentences follow a boy's visit to a pet clinic where he learns how vets use stethoscopes, X-rays, and lots of love to help animals from hamsters to horses.

Career Connection

Veterinarians use diagnostic tools — stethoscopes, radiographs, blood tests — to assess animal health, and this book introduces kids to the same clinical instruments and gentle examination process real vets use daily.

Toy / Game / Kit
Veterinarian Play Notepad for Kids – Pretend Vet Animal Clinic Imaginative Role-Play Playtime Pad – Large 5x7” Notepad, 25 Pages, Made in USA

Veterinarian Play Notepad for Kids – Pretend Vet Animal Clinic Imaginative Role-Play Playtime Pad – Large 5x7” Notepad, 25 Pages, Made in USA

Why We Picked It

These vet clinic notepads let kids write pet reports, document symptoms, and track treatments as they role-play running their own animal care practice with realistic paperwork.

Career Connection

Veterinarians maintain detailed medical records for every patient — exam notes, treatment plans, vaccination histories — and these notepads introduce kids to the same documentation habits that professional animal care requires.

Continue Your Journey

Keep exploring everything this career has to offer.