Becoming an equine veterinarian is a rewarding and fulfilling journey for those passionate about equine health, management, and science.

As a vital part of the equine industry, veterinarians not only diagnose and treat illnesses, but also play a key role in public health and animal welfare. Pursuing this noble profession requires dedication, education, and a deep commitment to the well-being of animals.

While all veterinarians start with a general education that covers both companion animals and livestock, some practitioners decide to work with large animals or horses exclusively once their training is complete. Specializing as a horse vet requires an in-depth knowledge of equine anatomy, physiology, and the unique challenges horses face in different environments and disciplines.

This article outlines the steps to becoming an equine veterinarian, covering educational requirements, skill development, and practical experiences. Whether you’re a high school student dreaming of working with animals or an equestrian considering a career in the horse industry, this guide will illuminate the way to becoming a veterinarian.

Becoming an Equine Veterinarian

To become an equine veterinarian, aspiring candidates must complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or equivalent degree from an accredited veterinary school.

However, for many students, the journey to becoming a veterinarian begins long before they start their vet school application. Veterinary schools desire well-rounded candidates with a wide array of animal and veterinary experiences. They also want candidates with a strong academic background.

High school students interested in becoming a veterinarian should focus on bolstering their application with relevant extracurricular activities and completing schoolwork that leads them to a science-based undergraduate degree. Preparation may include: [1]

  • Taking science and math courses
  • Participation in extracurricular activities including sports, clubs, volunteerism, etc.
  • Developing veterinary experiences such as volunteering at the humane society, shadowing veterinarians, etc.
  • Demonstrating comfort with animal interactions and handling such as in farm work or organizations like FFH, 4-H, or Pony Club

When choosing high school courses, prospective students may wish to look at admission requirements for science-based degrees at your desired university or college. If available, completing more competitive curricula such as Advanced Placement (AP) or International Bacchalaurate (IB) courses can give you an edge in university entrance and help you succeed under the intense academic demands of veterinary school.

After successful admission to an undergraduate program, it’s important to ensure your program’s coursework provides the prerequisites you need for veterinary school. Prerequisite courses may include: [2]

  • Biological sciences, including ecology, anatomy, biochemistry, genetics, microbiology, physiology, and cellular biology
  • Other sciences, such as physics, mathematics, statistics, chemistry, and inorganic chemistry
  • Animal science-specific courses, such as animal nutrition
  • Equine-specific courses, such as equine science, anatomy, or nutrition
  • Medical terminology courses
  • English composition

During your undergraduate studies, continuing extracurricular activities shows the veterinary school application committee your dedication to the field. Joining a Pre-Vet or Pre-Med club is also beneficial as they may offer classes, shadowing opportunities, or preparatory sessions that can benefit your application.

Additionally, getting involved in research as an undergraduate research assistant in your biology, chemistry, or natural sciences department is an extracurricular that strongly benefits your application.

However, not all of your extracurriculars have to be equine- or science-related! In fact, demonstrating that you’re a well-rounded student by participating in other clubs and sports goes a long way for your veterinary school application.

Volunteer experience, leadership experience as a club executive, juggling a teaching assistant (TA) position, and staying active within your campus community fosters professional and personal growth beyond your science education.

Applying to Veterinary School

Once you have taken your prerequisite courses, you are ready to make your veterinary school application. Prospective equine veterinarians apply to general veterinary programs since schools do not typically offer species-specific tracks at the admission level.

However, some veterinary schools are known for their strengths in large animal medicine and provide additional equine-specific courses and opportunities, potentially allowing students to gain more experience with horses.

After selecting the schools you want to apply to, you can begin the application process. While there are quantifiable features of veterinary school applications, like the candidate’s grades and test scores, the selection process relies on a measure of subjectivity based on the experience and perspective of the committee members.

This is why having a strong application showing you are a well-rounded candidate with a history of academic success is important.

Educational Requirements

Veterinary schools in North America require completion of at least 2 years of an undergraduate degree before applying to a veterinary program. Some schools may require completion of an undergraduate degree. [2]

During the undergraduate program, prospective veterinary students take prerequisite courses required by the veterinary school. [2] Each veterinary school has their own prerequisite list. Prospective students should consult the school’s admissions handbook to see what courses they need to take during their undergraduate program.

Some veterinary schools consider the GPA of prerequisite courses only, while others look at the overall GPA of your last 4 semesters of education as a separate score. Schools use these GPAs to select the top academic candidates for the interview process.

Other Requirements

Veterinary schools want to see well-rounded applicants with a broad range of experiences. This includes animal and veterinary experience, which may be in the form of paid or volunteer work. Examples of experiences to include in your application include: [3][4]

  • Animal experience: This includes farm and ranch experience, participation in animal-related organizations such as 4-H, FFA, or Pony Club, animal training, etc. These activities are not supervised by a veterinarian.
  • Employment: Previous job experience, even outside the animal or veterinary field.
  • Extracurricular activities: Sports, intramurals, clubs, committees, and hobbies.
  • Research: Research experience, particularly in animal or veterinary studies, can be a big boost for your application. This includes field studies or laboratory-based studies.
  • Veterinary experience: This is animal experience working directly with a veterinarian. For example, this may include working, shadowing, or volunteering in a veterinary hospital.
  • Volunteerism: Other types of volunteering outside of animal experiences, including tutoring, fundraising, or participating in volunteer organizations.

Other relevant items to include in your veterinary school application include: [4]

  • Awards and achievements
  • Licenses or certifications, such as First Aid, CPR, etc.
  • Letters of recommendation from veterinarians, faculty members, or other professionals

Some veterinary schools require additional testing as part of their selection process. Check with each prospective vet school to determine their individual requirements. Examples of additional testing include: [4]

  • Writing an essay
  • Graduate Record Examinations (GRE)
  • Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)
  • Online situational judgment tests, such as Casper

Well-rounded candidates with excellent letters of recommendation are more likely to be chosen for an interview. In many cases, the quality of extracurricular activities and letters of recommendation move a candidate higher up in the selection list, even if they have a lower GPA score.

Candidate Interviews

Most veterinary schools have an interview process to further narrow down their list of candidates. The interview usually involves going to the school in person for a one-day session, though some schools have transitioned to virtual interviews after adopting this format during COVID. This session usually includes a combination of interviews and a written essay portion.

There are two main types of interviews used in veterinary medicine: the panel interview and the multiple mini interview (MMI). The goal of these interviews is to assess each candidate’s perspective on the profession and evaluate for non-academic qualities that make a successful veterinarian. [5]

Panel interviews are similar to other types of job interviews. In these interviews, you meet with several committee members who ask you questions about your experiences, future goals, and academic accomplishments.

These interviews may be structured, with the same series of questions asked to every candidate, or may be more freeform. The reviewers create a score for each candidate based on the quality of their answers and overall impression.

MMIs are a specific type of interview process where a candidate moves through a series of interview stations. Rather than asking about specific aspects of your application, each station has a scenario designed to test your non-academic attributes and understanding of the profession. [6]

Evaluators score your responses to the scenarios using a rubric, based on the qualities that the veterinary school deems important in a veterinary candidate.