How to Become a Veterinarian: Every Step From High School to DVM

Last updated: November 11, 2026

To become a veterinarian in the United States, you complete college prerequisite courses (usually 3 to 4 years), earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree at an accredited veterinary college (4 years), then pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) and get a license in your state. In total, that is typically about 8 years after high school. You do not need a "pre-vet" major, and you can start preparing in high school with science classes, animal experience and a record of your hours. This guide uses data from the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA), the American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC) and the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Eight years from now, you could be the one an anxious owner trusts with their dog. The students who get there start testing their love of science early. Send me the research starter guide →

How long does it take to become a veterinarian?

Stage	Typical length	What happens
College	3 to 4 years	Prerequisite science courses, usually a bachelor's degree
Veterinary college (DVM)	4 years	About 3 years of classes, labs and clinical work, then a final year of clinical rotations
NAVLE and state license	During and after year 4	Students typically take the NAVLE late in the fall of year 4
Internship (optional)	Usually 1 year	Extra hands-on training after the DVM
Residency (optional)	About 2 to 3 years	Training toward board certification in a specialty

The AAVMC says a DVM "typically takes eight years of education beyond high school": four years of college, then four years of veterinary college. The AVMA adds that the average veterinarian completes 4 1/2 years of undergraduate study. Unlike physicians, veterinarians can start to practice right after the DVM and license. Internships and residencies are a choice, not a requirement.

The path to a DVM, step by step

Build a science base in high school. Biology, chemistry, physics and four years of math (more below).
Complete the prerequisites in college. Each veterinary college sets its own list. The AAVMC's Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements (VMSAR) directory shows them side by side.
Gain experience. Most US veterinary colleges require veterinary experience before you apply.
Apply through VMCAS. The AAVMC's centralized application, the Veterinary Medical College Application Service, is due September 15 each cycle. You request at least 3 letters of recommendation.
Earn your DVM. Four years at a college accredited by the AVMA Council on Education (COE).
Pass the NAVLE and get licensed. The NAVLE is required for licensure in every US and Canadian licensing jurisdiction. Most states also give their own exam on state laws.
Specialize, if you want. An internship and a residency lead to board certification.

What to do in middle school and high school

The AAVMC gives clear advice for high school students:

Science: biology, chemistry and physics, to prepare for college prerequisites.
Math: algebra, geometry, trigonometry, and precalculus or calculus.
English and humanities: four years of English composition, plus social sciences and the arts. Take public speaking if your school offers it.
AP math and science to prepare for college-level work. Our guide to AP exams explains how they work.
Animal experience: volunteer at a shelter, a zoo or a clinic, and join 4-H, FFA or HOSA.
Summer programs run by veterinary colleges for high school students.
A log of every experience: the date, the organization, what you did, the number of hours and a contact.

Start the log now, even in middle school. When you apply, you will need exact dates and hours, and you will thank your younger self. One note from the AAVMC: family pets do not count as animal experience. Shelters, farms, kennels and 4-H projects do.

If you love the science behind animal health, research is a strong way to explore it early. Our guides on research in middle school and research topics for high school students show how to begin.

You already know you love animals. A first research question, about a disease, a diet or a species you care about, shows you which part of veterinary science you love most. Show me project ideas →

Do you need a pre-vet major?

No. The AVMA says your choice of major "is not a factor in veterinary school admissions." What matters is that you complete each school's prerequisites and do well in them. Veterinary students come from majors such as math, engineering and English, as well as biology and animal science.

Many students still choose biology or animal science, because those majors cover most prerequisites. Pick a major that excites you. If you change your mind about veterinary medicine later, a broad science degree keeps other doors open.

Do you need a bachelor's degree at all? Not always. The AAVMC says most US veterinary colleges do not require one, and some let you apply after two years if you have finished the prerequisites. In practice, most admitted students do finish a degree. At Iowa State University, 151 of the 166 students in the DVM Class of 2030 had a bachelor's degree, and 12 more had a master's.

What veterinary schools look for

Grades

Grades matter, but the AAVMC says "it is not necessary to maintain a 4.0." Schools look mainly at your college record. The AAVMC also says a holistic review values "upward academic trends in recent semesters."

Experience

The AVMA lists six kinds of experience that veterinary colleges consider:

Experience	Examples
Veterinary	Paid or volunteer work supervised by a veterinarian
Animal	4-H or FFA, a shelter or rescue, a farm or a kennel
Research	Leading a research project, or collecting and analyzing data
Employment	Paid work outside the animal field
Volunteer	Unpaid work outside the animal field
Extracurricular	Sports, clubs, community groups and hobbies

The AVMA says "the depth and diversity of experience often matter more than quantity," although some schools set minimum hours. Veterinary experience matters most, because it shows you the real work and builds relationships with veterinarians who can write your letters.

Notice that research is its own category. A research project shows that you can ask a question and follow the evidence, which is what a veterinarian does with every patient. In learnSTEM's STEM Research Program, admitted high school students work one-on-one with a PhD mentor from a top-20 university and take one question from an idea to a finished paper over 12 weeks. As one learnSTEM student put it: "It gave me a great view of what I'm interested in as a career and potential major." Middle school students can start with the STEM Explorers Program.

Letters, tests and the rest

Letters: VMCAS asks for at least 3. The AVMA says most programs require at least one from a veterinarian who knows you.
The GRE: in the 2026-27 cycle, no school using VMCAS required it, and two listed it as optional.
Leadership and communication: veterinarians spend much of the day talking with owners, so schools value both.

Admissions readers see thousands of shelter hours. A question you investigated yourself, with real data, gives them something new to remember. Help me choose my field →

How competitive is veterinary school?

Competitive, and very achievable with a plan.

Applicants: 13,174 people applied to the Class of 2030, according to the AAVMC. On average, each applicant applies to 5 or 6 veterinary colleges.
Places: the AAVMC estimates that about 4,100 students start veterinary school each fall.
GPA: Iowa State's Class of 2030 had a mean required-science GPA of 3.54 and a mean GPA of 3.72 in the last 45 credits. The University of Missouri's Class of 2030 had an average GPA of 3.73.
Second tries are common: of the 124 students who enrolled at Missouri, 37 (29.8%) had applied more than once.

The AVMA says many veterinarians applied more than once before they were admitted, and recommends asking schools for feedback and reapplying stronger.

Accredited veterinary colleges in the US

The AVMA COE list shows 32 accredited US veterinary colleges and 7 more with provisional accreditation. Does a school's ranking matter? The AAVMC says no: all accredited colleges meet the same COE standards.

Cost differs widely between colleges and between in-state and out-of-state students, so compare them with the free AAVMC Cost Comparison Tool. Each college also offers its own scholarships, and the AAVMC points to federal loans and career-specific loan repayment programs.

What veterinarians earn and the job outlook

BLS measure	Veterinarians
Median annual pay, May 2025	$130,100
Lowest 10% earned less than	$73,920
Highest 10% earned more than	$215,700
Jobs in 2025	91,100
Projected growth, 2025-35	9% (much faster than the 3% average)
Openings per year	About 3,100

BLS expects growth from more pet spending, new treatments and an aging pet population. Today's veterinarians offer care such as cancer treatment and kidney transplants. Most work in private clinics and hospitals; others work on farms, in laboratories, in classrooms or at zoos.

The work asks a lot. BLS notes that it can be emotionally stressful, and many veterinarians work more than 40 hours a week. The people who thrive tested the work early, through real clinic hours, and chose it with open eyes. That is the best reason to start your experience log in high school.

Veterinarian, vet tech or vet assistant?

Role	Education	Median pay, May 2025
Veterinarian	DVM and state license	$130,100
Veterinary technologist or technician	Associate's degree	$47,380
Veterinary assistant	High school diploma	$38,150

The AAVMC's analogy: the DVM prepares you to be the doctor, and veterinary technology prepares you to be the nurse. Paid or volunteer work under a veterinarian's supervision, for example as an assistant, counts as veterinary experience in the AVMA's definition.

Veterinarian or physician?

Many students who love science weigh both. The AVMA says the four years of veterinary school are equal to medical school, "but for a number of animal species instead of just one." The main differences:

Time: about 8 years after high school for a veterinarian, against at least 11 for a physician, because physicians must also complete a residency. See how to become a doctor.
Pay: BLS reports a median of $130,100 for veterinarians and $275,930 for physicians and surgeons (May 2025).
Patients: veterinarians treat many species and work closely with owners.

Both paths share core sciences such as biology and chemistry. If you are unsure, our guide to pre-med explains the human-medicine route, and medical research internships let you test your interest.

Specialties: where the DVM can take you

The AVMA recognizes 22 veterinary specialty organizations with 48 specialties. More than 16,500 veterinarians have earned diplomate (board-certified) status. Specialties include equine practice, cardiology, oncology, surgery, shelter medicine, epidemiology and zoo animal medicine. If you dream of horses, wildlife or exotic pets, there is a defined path to that work.

Forty-eight specialties, from zoo medicine to oncology. A high school research project is a quiet way to try one before you commit years to it. Show me how to start one →

Frequently asked questions

How many years does it take to become a vet?

Typically about 8 years after high school: 3 to 4 years of college, then the 4-year DVM. An optional internship and residency add about 3 to 4 more years for specialists.

Is 25 too late to become a vet?

No. At Iowa State, the Class of 2030 ranged in age from 21 to 35, with a mean age of 23.9. Students start veterinary school at many points in life.

Is a 3.5 GPA bad for vet school?

Not by itself. Iowa State's Class of 2030 had a mean required-science GPA of 3.54. The AAVMC says a holistic review values an upward trend in recent semesters, and experience counts too.

Is a vet harder than a doctor?

Different, not easier. The AVMA calls veterinary school equal to medical school but across many species. Training is shorter, because a residency is optional for veterinarians.

Can you become a vet without a degree?

You need a DVM from an accredited college to practice. You do not always need a bachelor's degree first, but most admitted students have one. Without college, you can work in veterinary medicine as an assistant.

How much does it cost to become a veterinarian?

It varies by college and by residency status. Use the AAVMC Cost Comparison Tool, and ask each college about its scholarships.

Sources

About learnSTEM

All bright students reach a point where school stops challenging them. learnSTEM provides that challenge: the space to explore a field of their choice, guided by a world-class PhD mentor from a top-20 university, completely one-on-one and on your own schedule. Students finish with a passion for a new subject, a research project they are proud of, and a clear sense of what they want to pursue next.

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