How to become a Veterinarian

Official title: Veterinarians

Also called: Animal pathologist, Veterinarian, Veterinary epidemiologist, Veterinary intern, Veterinary surgeon

Veterinarians diagnose, prevent and treat diseases, injuries and dysfunctions of animals. They may provide care to a wide range of animals or specialize in the treatment of a particular animal group or in a particular speciality area, or provide professional services to commercial firms producing biological and pharmaceutical products.

Main tasks

• Determining the presence and nature of abnormal conditions by physical examination, laboratory testing and through diagnostic imaging techniques including radiography and ultrasound
• Treating animals medically and surgically, and administering and prescribing drugs, analgesics, and general and local anaesthetics
• Performing surgery, dressing wounds and setting broken bones
• Rendering obstetric and dental services to animals
• Participating in programmes designed to prevent the occurrence and spread of animal diseases
• Inoculating animals against, and testing for, infectious diseases and notifying authorities of outbreaks of infectious animal diseases
• Performing autopsies to determine cause of death
• Advising clients on health, nutrition and feeding, hygiene, breeding and care of animals
• Providing euthanasia services for animals

Ways in

• University: Veterinary & Animal Science degrees

Pay · Outlook · AI and this job

• Median pay: HK$48,000 a month
• About 1,542,900 people in 2025, and about 1,639,100 projected by 2028. (+6.2%)
• Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

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Questions people ask

How do I become a Veterinarian?

Ways in include: Veterinary & Animal Science degrees.

Do you need a degree to become a Veterinarian?

Usually. 88% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Will AI change the work of a Veterinarian?

Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.

Sources

• Census and Statistics Department (2021 Population Census): 2021 Population Census, Interactive Data Dissemination Service: working population by occupation (38 groups) and sex, age, education, income; median income and field of education (9 groups) (2021 Population Census), retrieved 4 October 2026
• Census and Statistics Department (General Household Survey): Median monthly employment earnings by occupation (9 groups), excluding foreign domestic helpers (Table 210-06317A); employed persons by occupation, age and sex (210-06307A) and by industry (210-06308A) (2025 annual (series to 2026-07)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• Labour and Welfare Bureau; tables published by C&SD: Mid-term Update of Manpower Projection to 2028: supplementary statistical tables (5 occupation groups, 17 selected industries) (2025 to 2028 (published 2026-09)), retrieved 4 October 2026
• International Labour Organization, Generative AI and Jobs: A Refined Global Index of Occupational Exposure (ILO Working Paper 140, Gmyrek et al.) (ILO Working Paper 140, May 2025, Annex Table A1), CC BY 4.0, retrieved 4 October 2026

Updated 4 October 2026