2 answers
Hazel
Student
Covington, Virginia
8
Questions
Asked
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How old do i have to be to be a vet?
I dont want to be really old #veterinarian
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2 answers
Elizabeth F Schilling DVM
Veterinarian/Educator
37
Answers
Redlands, California
Updated
Elizabeth F’s Answer
Hello Hazel!
To be a veterinarian you must first get through college, so for most people that means 4 years after high school. That means you may be around 25 when you start veterinary school. People take all different oaths, though. There are some people who get through high school and undergraduate (college) really quickly, and others who may work on another degree, or work in the field for a while to be sure they really like it, before applying for vet school. Some people even work in one career for a while and then decide to change careers and go back to school. When I was in vet school I had some classmates who were in their 30s and 40s.
There is no mandatory retirement age in veterinary medicine, and there are SO many different career opportunities within the field, that age at veterinary school really doesn’t matter. There are also many amazing opportunities that are better enjoyed before school - do you have family or friends that live somewhere else or can you find an exchange program? Learning about how people live in other parts of the country or world can be an amazing experience, and it’s harder to do once you have finished school.
This site might give you some ideas/options: https://collegegrad.com/careers/veterinarians
To be a veterinarian you must first get through college, so for most people that means 4 years after high school. That means you may be around 25 when you start veterinary school. People take all different oaths, though. There are some people who get through high school and undergraduate (college) really quickly, and others who may work on another degree, or work in the field for a while to be sure they really like it, before applying for vet school. Some people even work in one career for a while and then decide to change careers and go back to school. When I was in vet school I had some classmates who were in their 30s and 40s.
There is no mandatory retirement age in veterinary medicine, and there are SO many different career opportunities within the field, that age at veterinary school really doesn’t matter. There are also many amazing opportunities that are better enjoyed before school - do you have family or friends that live somewhere else or can you find an exchange program? Learning about how people live in other parts of the country or world can be an amazing experience, and it’s harder to do once you have finished school.
Elizabeth F recommends the following next steps:
Anne Emshoff
Veterinarian
4
Answers
San Antonio, Texas
Updated
Anne’s Answer
You won't be very old! In the United States, you will have to complete the prerequisites in college first, so you will likely be at least 21 when you enter vet school. Vet school is four years, so you would probably be about 25 when you graduate. That's not very old!