Veterinary
Career Info
Veterinarians are highly trained medical professionals who provide for the health needs of animals. Most veterinarians in the United States are engaged in private practice, providing primary healthcare to livestock and companion animals on a case-by-case, fee-for-service basis. Others work in a wide range of fields related to public health, animal disease control, environmental protection, biotechnology, higher education and research.
Veterinarians in clinical practice diagnose animal health problems; vaccinate against diseases, such as distemper and rabies; medicate animals suffering from infections or illnesses; treat and dress wounds; set fractures; perform surgery; and advise owners about animal feeding, behavior, and breeding. Veterinarians can contribute to human as well as animal health. A number of veterinarians work with physicians and scientists as they research ways to prevent and treat human health problems, such as cancer, AIDS, and alcohol or drug abuse. Some determine the effects of drug therapies, antibiotics, or new surgical techniques by testing them on animals. Veterinarians also play an important role in public health, in particular with regards to the incidence of zoonotic diseases, which constitute 75% of diseases worldwide. In 2022, the median annual wage for a veterinarian was $103,260. The job outlook is great, with a projected growth of 20% in the field by 2032.
More Information
Outlook: https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinarians.htm
Education & Training
In the US, prospective students must graduate from a 4-year program at an accredited college of veterinary medicine with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or Veterinary Doctor of Medicine degree and obtain a license to practice. There are currently 33 AVMA accredited schools of veterinary medicine in the United States, 5 in Canada, and 16 outside of North America. There are also several accredited foreign veterinary schools, some of which grant a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine. Admission to veterinary school is highly competitive. The 2020 class of all admitted applicants in the U.S. had an average cumulative GPA of 3.60 with a science prerequisite GPA of 3.50, and extensive animal experience (2-6 years animal experience). GRE or MCAT scores are often also required by schools.
Semester Course Recommendations (Under Construction)
| admission requirements vary by institution Check with professional schools to ensure you satisfy course content & unit requirements for veterinary programs |
|---|
| General Biology |
| BIO 1150 & BIO 1151 |
| Microbiology (course selection varies by major) |
|
MCRO 2224: General Microbiology I (For BIO/MCRO/BCHM majors for degree credit) or MCRO 2221: Introduction to Microbiology |
| Anatomy and Physiology |
|
BIO 2231 & BIO 2232 (For non-Bio majors) |
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BIO 4431 & BIO 4432 (For BIO or MCRO major degree credit) |
| Animal physiology |
| ASCI 4438: Systemic Animal Physiology or BIO 3352: Principles of Animal Physiology |
| General Chemistry |
| CHEM 1120 & CHEM 1122 |
| Organic Chemistry (Amount needed varies by school) |
| CHEM 2242; CHEM 2244 may also be required by some schools |
| Biochemistry |
| Biochemistry: Fundamentals & Applications: CHEM 3350 or Biochemistry: CHEM 3352 |
| Physics (course selection varies by major) |
| PHYS 1121 & PHYS 1123: College Physics: or PHYS 1141 & PHYS 1143: General Physics: |
| Genetics |
| ASCIO 3302: Animal Genetics: or BIO 3351: Principles of Genetics: |
| Statistics |
| STAT 1110 |
| english proficiency (oral & written communication) |
| GE 1A - Written Communication & GE - 1C Oral Communication |
| suggested preparation |
| ASCI 2220: Animal Nutrition and Feeding ASCI 4406: Animal Embryology and Assisted Reproduction Upper Biology coursework Humanities/Social Sciences |
CA Veterinary Schools
Professional Association Links
For more information and to determine specific requirements, please visit the American Veterinary Medical Association website at: www.avma.org as well as the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges website at: www.aavmc.org.
Cal Poly Veterinary Science Club
Click HERE to view Cal Poly Veterinary Medicine Acceptance Data (2023-2025)
