how much schooling do i need to become a vet

Hi Jessica,

Becoming a veterinarian is a process that begins with an undergraduate degree from an accredited school, typically in a science or math related discipline. After you complete your undergraduate studies, you can apply to one of the 30 veterinary schools in the US. Veterinary schooling usually extends for an additional 4 years beyond your undergraduate degree. So, in total, it is about 8 years of schooling in total.

It is recommended to plan out the courses you take for your undergraduate degree as early as possible. A list of pre-requisite courses needed to apply for each Vet school is listed at this link: https://www.aavmc.org/data/files/vmcas/prereqchrt14.pdf

Also, keep in mind that although it may seem overwhelming at first, studying an undergraduate degree related to the sciences gives you several options to pivot into different fields, should you decide at some point that you would like to pursue something different. Many of my colleagues have done this!

Best of luck!