{"id":3105,"date":"2020-04-16T13:39:07","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T13:39:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac-new\/?page_id=3105"},"modified":"2025-10-20T15:33:41","modified_gmt":"2025-10-20T19:33:41","slug":"the-veterinary-medicine-profession","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac\/the-veterinary-medicine-profession\/","title":{"rendered":"The Veterinary Medicine Profession"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n\n\n<aside class=\"ncst-aside-container\">\n  <div class=\"ncst-aside-contents\">\n    <a\n    class=\"ncst-content-card wp-block-ncst-spotlight-box has-reynolds-400-background-color with-image with-cta\"\n    href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/healthcare\/veterinarians.htm\"\n    data-ua-cat=\"Content Card\"\n    data-ua-action=\"Content Card Click\"\n    data-ua-label=https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/healthcare\/veterinarians.htm\n  >\n  \n\n          <div class=\"content-card__image-container\">\n        <div class=\"content-card__image-background\">\n          <img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"960\" height=\"627\" \n            class=\"content-card__image wp-image-7908\" \n            alt=\"The NC&#160;State zoological medicine and dentistry teams work the alumna and head veterinarian of the Greensboro Science Center Taylor Gregory to care for one of their otters.\" \n            src=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-2025-10-20-143401.png\" \n            style=\"aspect-ratio: 16\/9; object-fit: cover; \"\n srcset=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-2025-10-20-143401.png 960w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-2025-10-20-143401-300x196.png 300w, https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/50\/2025\/10\/Screenshot-2025-10-20-143401-768x502.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 960px) 100vw, 960px\" \/>\n        <\/div>\n      <\/div>\n    \n    <div class=\"content-card__text-container\">\n      \n                          <h3 class=\"content-card__headline\">A Fast Growing Career<\/h3>\n              \n\n      \t      \t        <p class=\"content-card__teaser\">The veterinary profession is projected to grow 9% from 2014- 2024, a rate faster than the average for all occupations<\/p>\n\t      \t    \n              <p class=\"content-card__cta\"><em>Bureau of Labor <span class=nowrap>Statistics<\/em>&nbsp;<span class=\"arrow-indicator\"><svg class=\"wolficon wolficon-arrow-right-bold\" role=\"img\"  aria-hidden=\"true\">\n            \n            <use xlink:href=\"#wolficon-arrow-right-bold\">\n        <\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n          <\/div>\n\n  <\/a>\n  <\/div>\n<\/aside>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion ncst-accordion\"><div class=\"accordion\" id=\"ncst-accordion-0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-0\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-0\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-0\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-0\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">Who is a veterinarian?<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-0\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-0\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-0\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<p>A veterinarian is a physician who treats animals. Besides diagnosing, treating animal health problems, and performing surgeries, many veterinarians also choose to specialize in a clinical field of veterinary medicine.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-1\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-1\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-1\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-1\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">What is a veterinary degree called?<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-1\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-1\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-0\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<p>A veterinary degree awarded within the United States is referred to as a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) or VMD (Veterinary Medical Doctor). A veterinary degree&nbsp;awarded in the British Commonwealth, for example,&nbsp;England,&nbsp;is&nbsp;known as BVSc (Bachelor of Veterinary Science).<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-2\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-2\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-2\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-2\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">What is the current employment rate and salary for veterinarians?<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-2\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-2\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-0\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<p>According to the United States Department of Labor, around 82% of all veterinarians are currently in private practice. However, veterinarians are also employed by universities, government agencies, industries, businesses, and the military in a wide variety of careers. In 2024, the Bureau of Labor Statistics revealed that the median salary for all veterinarians was $125,510. It was also revealed by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that the veterinary profession is projected to grow 19% from 2023-2033, which is faster than the average for all occupations. For more information go to:&nbsp;<a href=\"http:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/healthcare\/veterinarians.htm\">http:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/healthcare\/veterinarians.htm?<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-3\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-3\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-3\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-3\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">What are the other animal-related career options that one can pursue in case he\/she later chooses not to be on the pre-veterinary track?<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-3\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-3\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-0\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<p>Many other career options exist if an applicant decides that veterinary school is not for them. For example, some may choose to attend graduate school or medical school instead.&nbsp; Others may instead earn a veterinary technician degree.&nbsp; Others become animal trainers, behaviorists, as well as many other non-animal-related careers. Explore our<a href=\"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac\/other-veterinary-medicine-or-animal-sciences-careers\/\">Alternate Careers<\/a> page for more information on other animal-related careers.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-ncst-accordion-item ncst-accordion-item panel\"><a class=\"accordion-item__header collapsed\" href=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-4\" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-4\" data-toggle=\"collapse\" data-target=\"#ncst-accordion-item-0-4\" aria-controls=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-4\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><span class=\"accordion-item__expansion-indicator\"><span class=\"ncst-plus-minus-toggle\"><\/span><\/span><h2 class=\"accordion-item__label h5\">What are other areas that veterinarians can work in besides small animal medicine?<\/h2><\/a><div class=\"collapse panel-collapse accordion-item__content-container \" id=\"ncst-accordion-item-0-4\" aria-labelledby=\"ncst-accordion-item-heading-4\" data-parent=\"#ncst-accordion-0\"><div class=\"accordion-item__content\">\n<p>Veterinarians can work in a variety of other areas such as large animal or food animal medicine, avian medicine, or exotic\/wildlife medicine. Some veterinarians also work in areas that focus strongly on public health, research, or education. Veterinarians can be government officials who help create laws concerning human-animal interaction, or they can be members of the military. If you would like to know more about these career options please visit the AAVMC website using the follow link:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.aavmc.org\/additional-pages\/veterinary-career-options.aspx\">https:\/\/www.aavmc.org\/additional-pages\/veterinary-career-options.aspx<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":2503,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"ncst_dynamicHeaderBlockName":"ncst\/default-header","ncst_dynamicHeaderData":"{}","ncst_content_audit_freq":"","ncst_content_audit_date":"10\/10\/2025","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"class_list":["post-3105","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2503"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3105"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7910,"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3105\/revisions\/7910"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cals.ncsu.edu\/vetpac\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}