Qualifications for a Veterinary Surgeon

A veterinary surgeon performs a variety of different procedures on different types of pets from domesticated animals to farm animals and wildlife depending on the career path that is chosen. All veterinary surgeons must take a graduate program at a veterinary school and pass a state exam prior to working in the field of veterinary surgery.

• The first degree that needs to be obtained in order to become a veterinary surgeon is a bachelor of science that concentrates in either biology or zoology, depending on the field that the veterinary surgeon would like to enter. A Bachelor of Science takes 4 years to obtain when attending school full-time.

• Another 4 years of schooling is required to obtain a doctor of veterinary medicine degree. This degree will teach future veterinary surgeons a variety of knowledge that will be used in the field, such as animal pharmacology, animal nutrition and specific surgical procedures that are commonly performed.

• All veterinary surgeons are required to complete a 2-to-4-year residency program working with a skilled veterinary surgeon before they become eligible to practice as a veterinary surgeon. This type of training allows students to learn through hands-on experiences and help with surgeries that they will later perform on their own.

• Once all formal school is completed along with the residency program that is required, a veterinary surgeon will then need to take and pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam. This is the final step to becoming qualified to work as a veterinary surgeon. This is an extensive test with more than 350 questions.