How Long Does a Vet Go to School?
It takes anywhere from 9 to 12 years to become a board certified veterinarian. Admission to veterinary colleges is very competitive, and the more a student does to prepare for admission the better her chances will be of getting in. This may include taking undergraduate courses primarily in the sciences. It could also include getting work or volunteer experience in a related field.
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Time Frame
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A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree is a 4-year degree at an accredited veterinary college. The prerequisite to be accepted into a veterinary college ranges from 45 to 90 undergraduate credit hours, but applicants who have earned a Bachelor's degree are usually given preference.
Types
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To become board certified, a veterinarian must also complete a 3- to 4-year residency. During the residency, he will get hands-on training in one of the 20 specialties including dentistry, oncology, exotic small-animal medicine, internal medicine, nutrition, radiology and surgery.
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Accredited Colleges
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The American Veterinary Medical Association's Council on Education has accredited only 28 veterinary colleges located in 26 states.
Licensing
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A veterinarian must have a state license to practice, which means she must pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam. The exam is a 360 multiple-choice test, and takes approximately 8 hours to complete.
Potential Careers
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In addition to attending to animals, trained veterinarians can also become meat and poultry inspectors, disease-control workers, animal welfare and safety workers, U.S. public health service officers or they can go into research.
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