Careers in the Licensed Professions
Veterinarians diagnose and treat all animal disease, pain, illness, and injury. "Animal" includes every living creature except humans. Examples of services:
- health assessments, including the use of imaging procedures
- write prescriptions
- perform surgeries
- practice in specialized fields (such as internal medicine), based on advanced training and research
Education |
Complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from a Department-registered, veterinary medicine licensure program, or the equivalent. Such programs consist of at least four years of college study, including a year of clinical training. |
Examination |
North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) |
Visit the Office of the Professions for a listing of all options and requirements.
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Salary and Projected Growth
- Median salary: $ 93,830 in the U.S., $107,400 in NY
- Salary range: $70,440-$144,560
- Projected growth: much faster than average
Where Could I Work?
- Private clinics and hospitals
- Farms and ranches
- Research and education
- Government agencies
- Animal shelters, zoos, and aquariums
Your Interests and Abilities
- Work with animals
- Basic sciences
- Perform medical procedures
- Manual and technical skills
Professional Skills
- Concern for animals and people
- Ethical standards
- Attention to detail
- Communication
What Interests You?
Match your interests and personality to career options! Explore a free career tool at mynextmove.org/explore/ip
mentoring programs—talk to a veterinarian about what they do and how they got started!