A veterinarian provides medical treatment for animals. The vast majority work in private practice. A much smaller proportion work for zoos, large farms or ranches, racetracks and in clinical research.
Of vets in private practice, 77 percent are small animal vets who treat family pets. This is by far where the greatest demand is and the direction in which most graduates of veterinarian schools head. About 16 percent are livestock vets, who treat food animals and may also treat injured wild animals. Nine percent work exclusively with horses.
There is a definite split between small animal and large animal (livestock or horse) vets. Small animal vets generally have an office and seldom do house calls, although, as with human doctors, the house call is beginning to come back into fashion. Large animal vets usually drive to the farm or ranch.
Veterinarians generally make a decent amount of money, with a median salary of $79,050. Starting wages range between about 64 thousand for small animal vets down to a low of 41 thousand for equine vets. However, the demand for trained vets is higher than the supply. There are only 28 accredited veterinarian schools in the United States.
However, like other doctors, they have to do a lot of training. The training is somewhat similar to that of medical doctors. Veterinarians technically do not have to have a bachelor’s degree to gain admittance to vet school, but the large number of undergraduate credits required mean that the vast majority do and they definitely have priority over applicants without a degree. Students interested in becoming a vet should take an undergraduate degree that emphasizes sciences, with courses in all three sciences generally required. A few programs also require calculus, most require at least some courses in English and business. The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree is a four year course, and only about one in three applicants is accepted. New graduates can practice right away, but most do a one year internship to gain practical experience. Most students decide on a specialty fairly early in their course, sometimes before they even get to vet school.
Veterinarians also need to be licensed in the state in which they intend to practice. All States require a DVM degree or equivalent (for example, some foreign degrees) and that new vets pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam. This is an extremely tough 8 hour test. Some states also require that candidates pass an examination covering State laws and/or a practical in clinical competency.
All of that training, however, is worth it. With the number of pets and livestock animals being kept in the country, veterinarians will never be short of work.
