Pre-Veterinary (DVM)
What future students usually study in college, how to get ready in high school, and what the career looks like today. Every fact below names its source.
You become: a Veterinarian (DVM). Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to protect public health. [1]
Last checked:
What it is
Veterinarians must complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree at an accredited college of veterinary medicine, and the program generally takes 4 years to complete and includes classroom, laboratory and clinical components. [1]
Students typically spend the final year of the 4-year program doing clinical rotations in a veterinary medical center or hospital. [1]
Earning a DVM generally takes 4 years, following 3 to 4 years of undergraduate prerequisites. [2]
Some veterinary schools require a bachelor's degree, but many allow applications after completing prerequisite coursework, and no specific major is required. [2]
Applicants to veterinary school typically have a bachelor's degree in a field such as biology, and admission to veterinary programs is competitive. [1]
Animal experience includes 4-H animal projects, livestock farms, humane societies, zoos, kennel work and racetracks, and it does not include family pets. [2]
The AAVMC's VMCAS is a system for applying to veterinary medical schools. [3]
Courses to take before applying
Veterinary medical colleges typically require applicants to have taken many science classes, including biology, chemistry and animal science. [1]
Some veterinary medical colleges prefer candidates who have studied agriculture or have experience working with animals on a farm, at a stable or in an animal shelter. [1]
The rows below show one named program as an example: the University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine, DVM program. Confirm each program’s own list.
| Course | Status | More about this course |
|---|---|---|
| English, including writing | Required in this example programEnglish is 6 to 10 semester credits: one writing course and one additional English course. [4] | Described on the Pre-Med page |
Get ready with these topics: Writing a precise, significant argument · Evaluating and integrating sources · Drafting and documenting the research paper · Rhetorical appeals and devices | ||
| Algebra or higher math, and statistics | Required in this example programAn algebra or higher math course is 3 to 5 semester credits, and statistics is 3 to 5 semester credits. [4] | Described on the Pre-Med page |
Get ready with these topics: Functions and their families · Logarithms as inverses · Properties of logarithms · Measures of center · Measures of spread · Probability rules | ||
| General chemistry, with labs | Required in this example programGeneral chemistry with labs is 6 to 10 semester credits (two semesters). [4] | Described on the Pre-Med page |
Get ready with these topics: Atoms and electron arrangement · Periodic table patterns · Ionic and covalent bonding · The mole and molar mass · Stoichiometry and conservation of mass · Acids and bases · Quantities, units and rates · Literal equations and formulas | ||
| Organic chemistry | Required in this example programOrganic chemistry is 3 to 5 semester credits (one semester, lab not required). [4] | Described on the Pre-Med page |
Get ready with these topics: Ionic and covalent bonding · Lewis structures and molecular shape · Forces between particles and bulk properties · Organic chemistry basics · Acids and bases · Reaction rates and collision theory | ||
| Biochemistry | Required in this example programBiochemistry is 3 to 5 semester credits (one semester, lab not required). [4] | Described on the Pre-Med page |
Get ready with these topics: The molecules of life · Enzymes and how reactions happen in cells · Cellular respiration · From DNA to protein · Chemical equilibrium and Le Chatelier's principle · pH and neutralization | ||
| Biology with lab, genetics and advanced biology | Required in this example programAn introductory general biology course with lab is 3 to 5 semester credits, and genetics and an advanced biology course are each 3 to 5 semester credits. [4] | Described on the Pre-Med page |
Get ready with these topics: The molecules of life · Cell structure: prokaryotes and eukaryotes · The cell membrane and transport · Cellular respiration · From DNA to protein · Meiosis, mutations and genetic variation | ||
| Physics, introductory sequence | Required in this example programPhysics is 6 to 10 semester credits as an introductory sequence covering mechanics, heat, sound, electricity, light, magnetism and atomic physics, and labs are not required. [4] | Described on the Pre-Med page |
Get ready with these topics: Physics skills: units, vectors and graphs · Describing motion: position, velocity and acceleration · Newton's second law: net force, mass and acceleration · Conservation of energy: modeling energy in a system · Electric current, voltage and resistance · Waves: frequency, wavelength and speed · Radians and the unit circle | ||
| Liberal education | Required in this example programLiberal education is 9 to 12 semester credits, three courses in total. [4] | — |
All prerequisite courses must be graded at a C minus or better and evaluated with A-F grading, unless only offered as pass-fail, and Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate credits are acceptable if documented on an undergraduate transcript. [4]
Typical high school preparation
- To prepare in high school, students can gain a solid background in math and science, acquire experience with animals, and consider volunteering at a local humane society or with a local veterinarian. [5]
- Veterinary school typically requires preparation beyond high school, and veterinary schools primarily assess your college academic record, though high school transcripts may be required for direct-entry programs. [2]
Only what a cited source states is listed here.
Pre-Health Foundations: coming soon
The career today
National figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Pay varies by state, setting and experience. This is not a promise of pay or a job.
The median annual wage for veterinarians was $130,100 in May 2025. [1]
Employment of veterinarians is projected to grow 9 percent from 2025 to 2035, much faster than the average for all occupations. [1]
The typical entry-level education is a doctoral or professional degree. [1]
Getting licensed
Veterinarians must be licensed in order to practice in the United States, and prospective veterinarians in all states must complete an accredited veterinary program and pass a qualifying exam. [1]
In addition to passing the national exam, most states require that veterinarians pass a state licensing exam, and each state's exam covers its laws and regulations. [1]
Exams on this path
Overview only. For dates, registration, rules and scoring, see each test maker's own site.
NAVLE® (licensure)
The North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), administered by the ICVA since 2000, is a requirement for licensure to practice veterinary medicine in all licensing jurisdictions in the United States and Canada. [6]
The NAVLE is designed to ensure every newly licensed veterinarian meets a baseline standard of knowledge necessary to safely practice veterinary medicine. [6]
NAVLE® is a registered trademark of the International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA). ICVA is not affiliated with and does not endorse UpOnly Learning.
Questions people search
Chosen from our search-question research. Every answer is cited.
How long is vet school?
Earning a DVM generally takes 4 years, following 3 to 4 years of undergraduate prerequisites. [2]
Veterinarians must complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM or VMD) degree at an accredited college of veterinary medicine, and the program generally takes 4 years to complete and includes classroom, laboratory and clinical components. [1]
What are the requirements for vet school?
Some veterinary schools require a bachelor's degree, but many allow applications after completing prerequisite coursework, and no specific major is required. [2]
Veterinary medical colleges typically require applicants to have taken many science classes, including biology, chemistry and animal science. [1]
Animal experience includes 4-H animal projects, livestock farms, humane societies, zoos, kennel work and racetracks, and it does not include family pets. [2]
Your next step
Find out where you stand in math and reading today with a free placement test, then fill the gaps one step at a time.
Free for students, teens and adults. No card needed.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Occupational Outlook Handbook: Veterinarians. https://www.bls.gov/ooh/healthcare/veterinarians.htm. OOH page last modified October 29, 2026 (pay data May 2025; projections 2025–35). Checked .
- American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). Pre-Vet FAQs. https://www.aavmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/PreVet-FAQs.pdf. no date stated (PDF, copyright 2025). Checked .
- American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). Pre-Vet Students. https://www.aavmc.org/pre-vet-students/. no edition stated. Checked .
- University of Minnesota College of Veterinary Medicine. Prerequisite courses. https://vetmed.umn.edu/dvm/admissions/requirements-policies/prerequisite-courses. no edition or cycle stated. Checked .
- American Association of Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC). How to Prepare to Apply to Veterinary School. https://www.aavmc.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/How-to-Prepare.pdf. no date stated (PDF, copyright 2025). Checked .
- International Council for Veterinary Assessment (ICVA). NAVLE. https://www.icva.net/navle/. no edition stated. Checked .
Format: Publisher. Page title. URL. Edition or catalog year. Checked date.