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What does a Veterinarian do?

Photo of Brenna Goyette
Brenna Goyette
Certified Professional Resume Writer, Career Expert

Published 3 min read

A veterinarian is a medical professional who diagnoses and treats diseases and injuries in animals.

Veterinarian job duties include:

  • Examining animals to diagnose their health problems
  • Treating animals for medical conditions
  • Performing surgery on animals
  • Prescribing medication for animals
  • Vaccinating animals against diseases
  • Advising animal owners on how to care for their pets
  • Conducting research on animal health and disease
  • Teaching veterinary students
  • Inspecting livestock
  • Working with wildlife

Veterinarian Job Requirements

A veterinarian is a medical professional who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries in animals. In order to become a veterinarian, one must first complete a four-year veterinary medicine program at an accredited university. After completing the veterinary medicine program, veterinarians must then pass a national licensing exam in order to practice. In addition to completing an accredited veterinary medicine program and passing the national licensing exam, many veterinarians also choose to pursue additional certification in a specific area of interest such as surgery, internal medicine, or emergency and critical care.

Veterinarian Skills

  • Communication
  • Compassion
  • Patience
  • Organizational Skills
  • Detail Oriented
  • Multi-tasking
  • Time Management
  • Stress Management
  • Physical Stamina
  • Emotional Stability
  • Critical Thinking
  • Problem Solving

Related: Top Veterinarian Skills: Definition and Examples

How to become a Veterinarian

In order to become a veterinarian, one must complete a four-year veterinary degree at an accredited university. There are only 30 accredited veterinary schools in the United States, so admission is highly competitive. The first two years of the veterinary degree are spent completing pre-veterinary coursework, which includes classes in biology, chemistry, physics, and other sciences. The last two years are spent completing clinical rotations at a veterinary hospital. After graduation, veterinarians must pass a national board exam in order to become licensed.

There are many different specialty areas that veterinarians can choose to pursue, such as small animal medicine, large animal medicine, equine medicine, emergency and critical care, and many others. Some veterinarians choose to open their own private practices, while others work for animal shelters or zoos. No matter what path you choose to take, becoming a veterinarian is a long and challenging process that requires dedication and passion for helping animals.

Related: Veterinarian Resume Example

Related: Veterinarian Interview Questions (With Example Answers)

Editorial staff

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Editor

Brenna Goyette

Expert Verified

Brenna is a certified professional resume writer, career expert, and the content manager of the ResumeCat team. She has a background in corporate recruiting and human resources and has been writing resumes for over 10 years. Brenna has experience in recruiting for tech, finance, and marketing roles and has a passion for helping people find their dream jobs. She creates expert resources to help job seekers write the best resumes and cover letters, land the job, and succeed in the workplace.

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