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How many years do you need to be in college to become a vet?
I have a passion for animals and I want to become a vet in the future. I also want to be able to help animals. #veterinarian #animal-health
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4 answers
Updated
Elizabeth F’s Answer
Hello Naisha!
In general, undergraduate education through a bachelor's degree is the norm prior to veterinary school. Some people do this by getting their general ed and lower division courses done at a community college, and then transferring to a 4-year college or university to complete the upper division courses, especially sciences. Some people do all of it at a 4-year institution, and others may elect to pursue some graduate work before applying to veterinary school. The most important thing to consider is the the coursework that you take will meet the requirements for the schools that you are interested in. Each admissions committee sets the requirements for their school. There is significant overlap, but some schools have more specific requirements than others. In addition, make certain that the courses that you take will actually count towards those requirements. (not all chemistry or physiology or statistics courses (just for a few examples) are created equal.
Depending on the veterinary school, some don't actually require a BA or BS degree as long as you meet all of the requirements, so be sure to check as you are making your undergrad plans.
As Mary Jane pointed out above, the AAVMC webpage is a good place to start. Then start to consider which veterinary schools you would consider applying to. Not every state has a veterinary school, and not every school has state funding so a combination of location, finances, and specific programs might factor into your decision.
this website is a good place to start: https://www.aavmc.org/becoming-a-veterinarian/request-information/
Think about which vet schools interest you and check out their requirements (via admissions office pages on their websites)
Check with your school counselors about undergrad options in your area
In general, undergraduate education through a bachelor's degree is the norm prior to veterinary school. Some people do this by getting their general ed and lower division courses done at a community college, and then transferring to a 4-year college or university to complete the upper division courses, especially sciences. Some people do all of it at a 4-year institution, and others may elect to pursue some graduate work before applying to veterinary school. The most important thing to consider is the the coursework that you take will meet the requirements for the schools that you are interested in. Each admissions committee sets the requirements for their school. There is significant overlap, but some schools have more specific requirements than others. In addition, make certain that the courses that you take will actually count towards those requirements. (not all chemistry or physiology or statistics courses (just for a few examples) are created equal.
Depending on the veterinary school, some don't actually require a BA or BS degree as long as you meet all of the requirements, so be sure to check as you are making your undergrad plans.
As Mary Jane pointed out above, the AAVMC webpage is a good place to start. Then start to consider which veterinary schools you would consider applying to. Not every state has a veterinary school, and not every school has state funding so a combination of location, finances, and specific programs might factor into your decision.
Elizabeth F recommends the following next steps:
Updated
Mary Jane’s Answer
Veterinarians complete a 4-year undergraduate degree and then a 4-year veterinary medicine degree.
Depending on what kind of animals you wish to work with or the area of veterinary medicine on which you want to focus, you might also do 1-3 additional years in an internship or residency training program to learn specialized skills, for example, large animal surgery or emergency medicine.
You can request information about becoming a vet by filling out this form on the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges website. They will email information that's targeted to your current educational level, from pre-high school through college graduate and parents can also sign up for a parent newsletter. Here's the link: https://www.aavmc.org/becoming-a-veterinarian/request-information/
Depending on what kind of animals you wish to work with or the area of veterinary medicine on which you want to focus, you might also do 1-3 additional years in an internship or residency training program to learn specialized skills, for example, large animal surgery or emergency medicine.
You can request information about becoming a vet by filling out this form on the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges website. They will email information that's targeted to your current educational level, from pre-high school through college graduate and parents can also sign up for a parent newsletter. Here's the link: https://www.aavmc.org/becoming-a-veterinarian/request-information/
Updated
Judy’s Answer
Four years of undergraduate
Four years of vet school
1-6 years for internship and residency (specialty like surgery, internal medicine, dermatology etc)
Four years of vet school
1-6 years for internship and residency (specialty like surgery, internal medicine, dermatology etc)
Anthony Sharp - The Edutainer (HE He/Him/His)
Facilitator of Employment Readiness
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Anthony’s Answer
Hey Naisha,
Here is a career profile - https://collegegrad.com/careers/veterinarians
Definitely, research colleges to find the best choice for you that will meet your needs.
Hope that helps.
Here is a career profile - https://collegegrad.com/careers/veterinarians
Definitely, research colleges to find the best choice for you that will meet your needs.
Hope that helps.
Hey Anthony, this is a helpful link but your answer doesn't directly answer the question.
Gurpreet Lally, Admin