Work Requirements at a Veterinary Hospital

To work at a veterinary hospital, you must be a veterinarian or a veterinarian technician. Both of these positions require education at an approved college. In addition to special education in this field, a strong desire to help animals of various species is a helpful asset.

Education

Working at a veterinary hospital requires eight years of study if you are considering becoming a veterinarian. Four years of undergraduate study in science, math and chemistry are usually required. After completing your undergraduate studies, you must apply to an approved American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) veterinary college. Upon completion of veterinary college, you will receive a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, D.V.M, degree.

Another option is attending a special college to become a veterinarian technician. Most generally, the college course for a veterinarian technician can be a two year or four year course. After completing two years of study, you will receive an associate degree. Completing four years of study will earn you a Bachelor's degree.

License

For a veterinarian, upon graduating from college, you must pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam. Each state has their own test questions for state boards. You must pass the state boards in order to obtain a license to practice veterinarian medicine.

Veterinarian technicians must pass an entry level exam, the Veterinarian Technician National Exam. After passing this exam, you will be given a veterinarian technician license. 

Certification

Veterinarians who choose to specialize in any one field must earn certification through the AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties. Three to four years of specialty training in an approved residency program is required before you can obtain certification.