How long does it take to become a veterinarian?

Typically eight years or more of study. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.

How much do veterinarians make?

The US median is $130,100 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.

Do you need a degree to become a veterinarian?

Yes — a degree is the usual way in.

Where can you train to become a veterinarian?

49 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

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How to become a veterinarian

Healthcare (clinical) · SOC 29-1131

$130,100US median pay, 2025

+9.4%Projected growth, 2025–35

3,100Openings per year

DegreeUsual way in

How you get in

A degree is the usual way in.

Doctoral or professional degree
Work as a veterinarian

Programs that lead to this job

These are the federal program codes (CIP) that the Department of Education maps to this occupation, and how many US colleges, community colleges or trade schools report awarding credentials in each.

Program	Code	Schools
Veterinary Medicine	CIP 01.8001	31
Veterinary Sciences/Veterinary Clinical Sciences, General	CIP 01.8101	23
Veterinary Pathology and Pathobiology	CIP 01.8108	7
Comparative and Laboratory Animal Medicine	CIP 01.8102	6
Veterinary Microbiology and Immunobiology	CIP 01.8107	4
Veterinary Preventive Medicine, Epidemiology, and Public Health	CIP 01.8110	4
Veterinary Infectious Diseases	CIP 01.8106	3
Veterinary Physiology	CIP 01.8109	2
Large Animal/Food Animal and Equine Surgery and Medicine	CIP 01.8103	1
Small/Companion Animal Surgery and Medicine	CIP 01.8104	1
Veterinary Anatomy	CIP 01.8105	0
Veterinary Toxicology and Pharmacology	CIP 01.8111	0
Veterinary Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Other	CIP 01.8199	0
Veterinary Anesthesiology Residency Program	CIP 60.0301	0
Veterinary Dentistry Residency Program	CIP 60.0302	0
Veterinary Dermatology Residency Program	CIP 60.0303	0
Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Medicine Residency Program	CIP 60.0304	0
Veterinary Internal Medicine Residency Program	CIP 60.0305	0
Laboratory Animal Medicine Residency Program	CIP 60.0306	0
Veterinary Microbiology Residency Program	CIP 60.0307	0
Veterinary Nutrition Residency Program	CIP 60.0308	0
Veterinary Ophthalmology Residency Program	CIP 60.0309	0
Veterinary Pathology Residency Program	CIP 60.0310	0
Veterinary Practice Residency Program	CIP 60.0311	0
Veterinary Preventive Medicine Residency Program	CIP 60.0312	0

…and 9 more related programs.

See the 49 schools that offer these programs →

Common questions

How long does it take to become a veterinarian?: Typically eight years or more of study. That is the usual route rather than a rule — people arrive by other paths all the time.
How much do veterinarians make?: The US median is $130,100 a year, meaning half earn more and half less. Pay varies widely by state, employer and experience.
Do you need a degree to become a veterinarian?: Yes — a degree is the usual way in.
Where can you train to become a veterinarian?: 49 US colleges, community colleges and trade schools award credentials in a matching program. See which ones →

Pay and growth are national figures. What you earn depends on where you work, your employer and your experience, and these are projections rather than promises. Education requirements describe how most people enter the job, not a rule — plenty of people take another route.

Pay, growth, openings and entry requirements: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025–35. Program-to-occupation mapping: NCES CIP–SOC crosswalk (2020/2018). School counts: IPEDS completions, 2022–23.

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