How to become a Veterinarian
Also called: Animal doctor, Animal pathologist, Animal surgeon, Public health veterinarian, Veterinary epidemiologist, Veterinary pathologist, Veterinary practitioner, Veterinary surgeon, Animal doctor, Animal pathologist, Animal surgeon
Veterinarian diagnoses, prevents and treats diseases, injuries and dysfunctions of animals. He/she inoculates animals against diseases and advises on care and breeding of animals. He/she may provide care to a wide range of animals or specialise in the treatment of a particular animal group or in a particular specialty 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
How to become one
Veterinarians are required to apply for a veterinary licence from the National Parks Board (NParks) or its equivalent in order to practise veterinary medicine in Singapore.
Ways in
- University: Medicine & Dentistry degrees, Offered by 2 universities in Singapore
- University: Veterinary & Animal Science degrees
- Licence or registration: Vets need a licence to treat animals and birds from the Animal and Veterinary Service. You need a veterinary degree the service recognises, or a pass in one of the overseas veterinary licensing exams it accepts. The licence lasts up to two years and is renewed with continuing education. Law: Animals and Birds Act 1965. Regulator: Animal and Veterinary Service (AVS), National Parks Board (https://avs.nparks.gov.sg).
Pay · Outlook · AI and this job
- Median pay: $102,000 a year. The middle half earn $65,904 to $136,680 a year.
- Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
Not sure this is for you? Take the 2-minute career quiz
Questions people ask
How do I become a Veterinarian?
Veterinarians are required to apply for a veterinary licence from the National Parks Board (NParks) or its equivalent in order to practise veterinary medicine in Singapore.
How much does a Veterinarian earn in Singapore?
Median full-time pay is $102,000 a year (Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg)). The middle half earn $65,904 to $136,680.
Will AI change the work of a Veterinarian?
Generative AI can do relatively little of this work, by the ILO's global estimate.
Sources
- Ministry of Manpower (via data.gov.sg): Resident Occupational Wages (Occupational Wage Survey) (June 2024 (data.gov.sg update 2026-04-01)), Singapore Open Data Licence v1.0, retrieved 4 October 2026
- Singapore Department of Statistics (SingStat): Singapore Standard Occupational Classification (SSOC) 2024 (SSOC 2024 (definitions and index updated 2026-06-24)), Singapore Open Data Licence, 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