How to become a Veterinarian
Official title: Veterinarians
Also called: Veterinarian, Zoo veterinarian, Farm veterinarian, Avian veterinarian, Equine veterinarian, Poultry veterinarian, Research veterinarian, Food animal veterinarian, Small animal veterinarian, Veterinarian practitioner, Animal behavior veterinarian, Companion animal veterinarian
Veterinarians prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and disorders in animals and advise clients on the feeding, hygiene, housing and general care of animals. They can also perform surgical procedures. They work in private practice or may be employed by animal clinics, farms, laboratories, government or industry.
Main tasks
- Diagnose diseases or abnormal conditions in individual animals, herds and flocks through physical examinations or laboratory tests
- Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds or performing surgery
- Vaccinate animals to prevent and treat diseases
- Perform routine, emergency and post-mortem examinations
- Advise clients on feeding, housing, behaviour, breeding, hygiene and general care of animals
- Provide a range of veterinary services including obstetrics, dentistry and euthanasia
- May supervise animal health technologists and animal care workers
- May be responsible for overall operation of animal hospital, clinic or mobile service to farms
How to become one
Doctor of veterinary medicine Two years of pre-veterinary university studies or completion of a college program in health science and a four to five year university degree in veterinary medicine and successful completion of an examination leading to a national certification are required. A provincial licence to practice is required. Veterinary specialists Completion of a degree in veterinary medicine and three to four years of additional postgraduate studies or residency program in the specialty of their choice are required. Veterinary specialists must be accredited by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) or the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP). In Quebec, they must be accredited by the Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec and only 18 specialties are recognized. A provincial license to practice is required. Research veterinarian Two years of pre-veterinary university studies or completion of a college program in health science and a four to five year university degree in veterinary medicine and successful completion of an examination leading to a national certification are required. Entry into research positions may require postgraduate study. A provincial licence to practice is required.
Ways in
- University: Veterinary & Animal Science degrees, Offered by 5 universities in Canada
- University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 15 universities in Canada
- Licence or registration: A provincial licence to practice is required. A provincial license to practice is required. A provincial licence to practice is required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $117,000 a year The middle half earn $93,756 to $138,899.
- About 12,600 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 15,600 are projected by 2033. (+23.8%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: strong risk of shortage.
Related jobs
- Specialists in clinical and laboratory medicine
- Specialists in surgery
- General practitioners and family physicians
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Questions people ask
How do I become a Veterinarian?
Doctor of veterinary medicine Two years of pre-veterinary university studies or completion of a college program in health science and a four to five year university degree in veterinary medicine and successful completion of an examination leading to a national certification are required. A provincial licence to practice is required. Veterinary specialists Completion of a degree in veterinary medicine and three to four years of additional postgraduate studies or residency program in the specialty of their choice are required. Veterinary specialists must be accredited by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) or the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP). In Quebec, they must be accredited by the Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec and only 18 specialties are recognized. A provincial license to practice is required. Research veterinarian Two years of pre-veterinary university studies or completion of a college program in health science and a four to five year university degree in veterinary medicine and successful completion of an examination leading to a national certification are required. Entry into research positions may require postgraduate study. A provincial licence to practice is required.
How much does a Veterinarian earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $117,000 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $93,756 to $138,899.
Is a Veterinarian a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 24% by 2033, from about 12,600 to about 15,600 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become a Veterinarian?
Usually. 100% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03