Veterinary Medicine

• Small animal veterinarians deal mostly with household pets.
• Large animal veterinarians, who commonly work with horses, cows, pigs, sheep, and other farm animals, often have mobile practices. They may travel all over the countryside at all hours of the day and night, performing urgent procedures on sick or injured animals.
• Some veterinarians work with companies that develop and produce food or drugs to keep animals healthy. Others are employed by the government to inspect livestock for diseases. Quite a few take part in medical research projects that use animals as test subjects.
• Earnings in Canada are $80,000 to $150,000 a year or more a year. 

• To become a veterinarian, you need to attend veterinary school for 4 to 5 years. Some Doctors of Veterinary Medicine (DVMs) may choose to specialize in areas like cardiology and radiology.  Additional training leading to board certification in those and other subspecialties may take an additional 2 to 7 years.   
• Applicants to veterinary school must first complete full-time studies in a Bachelor’s degree program ranging from 2 to 4 years. However, because veterinary school admission is so competitive, it is a good idea to complete a full Bachelor of Science degree before applying.
• Courses: Prerequisite courses may vary among schools; however, Veterinary schools require applicants to have taken courses in certain areas of study such as cell biology, general biology, zoology, ecology, general chemistry, organic chemistry, biochemistry, genetics, biology, physics, statistics, English, and humanities and social sciences. In some cases, taking the science courses with a lab component is required. However, exact requirements vary by school so be sure to check with the veterinary school you are interested in to find out what courses are required and recommended.  
• Tests: Another admission requirement could be the submission of Casper test scores. Casper is administered by Acuity Insights. More information on the test may be accessed here. Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) may be required in a few cases. The MCAT assesses concepts in the biological, biochemical, chemical and physical sciences as well as problem solving, critical thinking, and writing skills. Practice tests, some free, are available at: princetonreview.com/medical/mcat-canada and students-residents.aamc.org/prepare-mcat-exam/free-planning-and-study-resources as well as other test preparation companies. The GRE assesses verbal reasoning, quantitative reasoning, and analytical writing. Free test prep materials are available on their website

• Animal Experience: Although there is no strict requirement, about 500 hours of different types of animal experience is recommended, preferably with large and small/companion animals under the direct supervision of a veterinarian. This experience may be obtained by working with or shadowing a veterinarian. 

  About 200-400 hours of general (non-veterinary) animal-related experiences is also recommended. This may include any activity that is animal related that provides a variety of handling opportunities. Some examples are: volunteering/working at a shelter, rescue, farm, zoo, as a groomer, pet walker/sitter. While pet ownership, work/experience with other animals such as exotics, marine and lab animals, as well as research and regulatory experience, may strengthen an application.

• Other Non-Academic Requirements: Other admission criteria may include extracurricular experience (outside of veterinary experiences), personal essay, interview, references, or letters of recommendation.  
• After graduation from veterinary school with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), you must pass the national board exams for veterinary medicine and become a member of the veterinary medical association in the province where you want to practice. Info about these exams is on the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association website.
• If you want to enter into a research position, you may have to do post-graduate studies.
• Helpful Tip: Veterinary and animal care experience is very important in getting into veterinary schools. Start working or volunteering for a veterinarian, animal shelter, zoo, stable or farm during your university years. Keep track of the hours and experiences you have gained at these places and be prepared to elaborate on them when you apply to veterinary schools.

NOTE: If you intend on applying to an out-of-province school of veterinary medicine be sure to check the residency requirements of that particular school. Certain schools require that you are a resident of that province, region or territory.

• canadianveterinarians.net -- Canadian Veterinary Medical Association
  • This association is the national body representing the interests of Canadian veterinarians. Their website also has info about the licensing exams required to practice veterinary medicine. Scroll over the About Us tab to find a link leading to Career Information.
• cfavm.ca -- Canadian Faculties of Agriculture & Veterinary Medicine
  • Several universities in Canada have joined together to create this website which supports agricultural and veterinary medicine. Click on Careers in Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine for more info.
• cvo.org -- College of Veterinarians of Ontario (CVO)
  • CVO regulates the practice of veterinary medicine in Ontario to protect the public interest. It licenses veterinarians, inspects and accredits veterinary facilities and investigates complaints against veterinarians.
• ets.org/gre -- Graduate Record Examinations
  • Scores from this test may be required for admission into a veterinary school.
• aamc.org/students/applying/mcat -- Medical College Admission Test
  • Scores from this test may be required for admission into a veterinary school.