Although each future veterinarian’s path can vary, it generally takes four years to complete veterinary school, according to the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). It’s important to note that it’s not typically possible to enter veterinary school immediately after high school. You’ll first need to complete undergraduate prerequisites, such as by earning a bachelor’s degree.^{(See disclaimer 1)}

While the path toward becoming a veterinarian may be lengthy, this career can be a good fit for individuals who love animals and feel a calling to help sick and injured animals get well again. The career also offers flexibility, as veterinarians may specialize by becoming companion animal veterinarians, food animal veterinarians or food safety and inspection veterinarians, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).^{(See disclaimer 2)}

It typically takes at least four years to complete veterinary school, although that is not the only requirement needed to become a veterinarian. You’ll also need to earn a bachelor’s degree prior to entering veterinary school,^{(See disclaimer 1)} and then you’ll need to earn the necessary licensure. According to the BLS, all vets must be licensed nationally. National licensure is obtained by passing an exam.^{(See disclaimer 3)}

Additionally, most states require vets to obtain state licensure by passing a state licensing exam. Note that veterinarians who plan to pursue employment with a federal or state governmental agency might be exempt from state licensure, depending on specific requirements.^{(See disclaimer 3)}

How long does it take to become a veterinarian? The exact timeline can vary based on numerous factors, including one’s undergraduate journey, graduation timeline for veterinary school and licensure requirements. Additionally, some veterinarians seek specialty training after obtaining licensure, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).^{(See disclaimer 4)}

What is a veterinarian’s education timeline like? Looking solely at the schooling requirement, students can expect to complete the following:

1. Undergraduate degree: approximately 3 to 4.5 years of schooling to complete prerequisites^{(See disclaimer 1,4)}
2. Veterinary degree: about 4 years to graduate from veterinary school^{(See disclaimer 1)}

Keep in mind that timeline does not include the time required to fulfill licensure requirements or to undergo specialty training following graduation.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

Veterinarians must graduate from veterinary school, which confers a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree or a Veterinary Medical Doctor (VMD) degree. Veterinarians must also have completed veterinary school prerequisites, such as earning a relevant bachelor’s degree in pre-veterinary medicine.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

What is a veterinarian’s career pathway like? It typically includes these steps:^{(See disclaimer 1, 4)}

1. Complete undergraduate prerequisite coursework, through a bachelor’s program
2. Graduate from veterinary school
3. Fulfill national and state licensure requirements
4. Complete an internship (optional)
5. Complete residency training (optional)
6. Become board certified (optional)

It can be challenging to become a veterinarian, as veterinary students must complete extensive education requirements. The coursework can be difficult, as there is a heavy focus on anatomy, physiology, pharmacology, immunology, toxicology and biochemistry in veterinary school. Additionally, veterinary students must successfully complete clinical rotations, during which they treat animals under close supervision.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

Despite the challenges, becoming a veterinarian can be a worthwhile endeavor, particularly for students who love animals and would like to work with them. Keep in mind, however, that veterinarians cannot heal every animal. Not every patient will survive, and it can be emotionally difficult to lose patients and counsel grieving clients.

Veterinarians care for sick, injured and well animals. Their typical tasks include:

• Patient assessments, which include questioning clients about their observations and their animal’s health history and habits
• Cleaning and dressing wounds
• Administering vaccinations
• Conducting diagnostics, such as x-rays
• Prescribing medications
• Providing client education about animal care, conditions and treatments
• Performing surgery
• Euthanizing animals who are not able to recover

Some veterinarians conduct research into animal diseases, chronic conditions and treatments.

There is a great deal of diversity in this career field, as veterinarians can choose to specialize in different areas. Consider the following roles and career paths:^{(See disclaimer 2)}

• Companion animal veterinarian: Assesses and treats pets, such as cats, dogs, birds and exotic animals
• Food animal veterinarian: Works with livestock, such as cattle and pigs
• Food safety and inspection veterinarian: Inspects and tests livestock and animal products, testing for diseases and enforcing regulations

Within these main career paths, there are numerous specialty roles. According to the AVMA, veterinarians can choose from 48 AVMA-recognized specialties, including:^{(See disclaimer 5)}

• Animal shelter medicine
• Reptile and amphibian
• Exotic companion mammal
• Equine
• Swine health management
• Cardiology
• Neurology
• Oncology
• Parasitology 

After graduating from veterinary school and completing licensure requirements, veterinarians are only required to maintain their licensure as specified by state law, according to the American Association of Veterinary State Boards (AAVSB). All states require veterinarians to complete continuing education hours to maintain licensure, although the specific number of hours varies by jurisdiction.^{(See disclaimer 6)}

Continuing education hours aside, completing additional training, such as a residency, is not a requirement to become a veterinarian. However, many veterinarians do choose to pursue an internship, typically lasting one year, and/or a residency, typically lasting two to three years. Following this, they may become board certified in a specialty area.^{(See disclaimer 4)}

Only you can determine if becoming a veterinarian is the right choice for you. There are numerous factors to consider.

You might consider what you can expect in terms of potential earnings. How much does a veterinarian make? According to the BLS, veterinarians made a median annual salary of $130,100 in May 2025. The lowest 10% made less than $73,920, while the top 10% made more than $215,700.^{(See disclaimer 7)}

Along with researching the career and its requirements online, consider gaining some experience in the field. Start by requesting a job shadow at a local clinic. Prepare for your job shadow by developing a list of questions that aren’t easily answerable with online research.

You might also consider pursuing an internship at a vet clinic in high school or college, or a part-time job staffing the front desk at a clinic. If you still aren’t sure about becoming a veterinarian, but would love to work with animals, consider alternative careers that involve animal care, such as vet tech, animal trainer or zookeeper.

If you plan to pursue entry into veterinary school, consider getting started with GCU’s Bachelor of Science in Biology with an Emphasis in Pre-Veterinary Medicine. This degree focuses on scientific reasoning and hands-on lab experience, covering topics in animal behavior, medical terminology, vertebrate physiology and more.