Best Equine Vet Schools

Are you interested in knowing all about the Best Equine vet schools? All you have to do is keep reading to know more. The average equine veterinarian can expect to make between $42,000 and $87,000 annually. The AVMA puts the median salary for equine veterinarians around $85,000 per year. veterinarians are animal doctors who provide medical care for horses. They examine, test and occasionally operate on or euthanize the animals. Travel to ranches and farms is often necessary, and equine vets may have to work outdoors in various types of weather conditions. In addition, surgeries sometimes have to be performed on site under dubious levels of cleanliness. To become an equine vet or nurse you should be able to demonstrate determination and drive with a strong emphasis on hands-on work experience with animals and good communication skills. Anyone thinking of a career in the veterinary industry should also have a deep passion for the love and care of animals; liking them is not enough. Any nurse or vet will need to be highly committed to their role and the animals they treat; the hours are long and the workload high but the rewards are enormous. The ability to demonstrate emotional strength is also very important when faced with some very tough decisions. You must have excellent communication skills, be a good team player and be able to think and make decisions rationally and efficiently in emergency situation. Want to know more about Best Equine Vet Schools, quine vet school requirements, equine veterinarian salary & best equine vet schools in the world? All you have to do is keep reading as the article below brings you all you need to know and more.

Career Requirements

Degree Level	Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
Licensure (Certification)	Licensure required; certification available through the American Veterinary Medical Association.
Experience	Internships or residency programs
Key Skills	Compassion; decision-making, communication, management, and problem-solving skills; manual dexterity
Median Salary (2018)	$93,830 (for all veterinarians)

Best Equine Vet Schools

Equine veterinarians are known for their compassion for animals. They are capable decision makers and problem solvers. Communication skills are important, as are management skills and manual dexterity. In May 2018, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported that veterinarians in general earned a median salary of $93,830.

Top 10 Veterinary Schools

The following veterinary schools can prepare students to become equine veterinarians:

College/University	Location	Institution Type	Tuition (In-state, 2016-17)*
University of California – Davis	Davis, CA	4-year, Public	$31,324
Cornell University	Ithaca, NY	4-year, Private	$33,732
Colorado State University	Fort Collins, CO	4-year, Public	$57,766 (non-sponsored)
North Carolina State University	Raleigh, NC	4-year, Public	$18,516
Ohio State University	Columbus, OH	4-year, Public	$31,148
University of Wisconsin – Madison	Madison, WI	4-year, Public	$22,762
Texas A&M University – College Station	College Station, TX	4-year, Public	$22,224
University of Pennsylvania	Philadelphia, PA	4-year, Private	$51,384
University of Minnesota – Twin Cities	Minneapolis, MN	4-year, Public	$31,420
Tufts University	Medford, MA	4-year, Private	$47,010

Steps to Be an Equine Veterinarian

The education and training required for a career as an equine veterinarian are fairly rigid.

Step 1: Earn a Bachelor’s Degree

While no specific major is necessary for pre-veterinary degrees, it is helpful to have undergraduate training in the sciences, such as biology, chemistry, physics, genetics, zoology and nutrition. Prerequisites for veterinary school may include coursework in math, English, humanities, social science and business. Most equine veterinarians hold bachelor’s degrees before entering veterinary school. However, some veterinary colleges admit students with only 45-90 undergraduate credits.

Complete an internship.

According to the BLS, equine veterinarians who complete an internship program before entering the practice generally experience greater employment opportunities and higher pay later in their careers. Internships typically last one year and offer paid, practical experience in equine medicine.

Step 2: Earn a Veterinary Medicine Degree

According to the BLS, admission to veterinary school has become increasingly competitive in the past few decades because the number of applicants has outgrown the number of colleges. Those with bachelor’s degrees have the best chances for admission. Admission requirements vary by school, but all applicants must sit for a standardized test, such as the GRE (Graduate Record Examination), MCAT (Medical College Admission Test) or VCAT (Veterinary College Admission Test).

Veterinary school generally lasts four years and results in a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree. The first two years of veterinary school typically take place in the classroom and focus on biomedical science courses and preparation for clinical practice. In the last two years, students usually participate in clinical clerkships, gaining hands-on, animal care experience under the supervision of licensed veterinarians. During the fourth year, students can choose to complete clinical rotations in equine medicine, among other specialties. Some veterinary school graduates choose to enter clinical practice directly after earning a D.V.M. or V.M.D and obtaining state licensure.

Step 3: Obtain a License

All 50 states and the District of Columbia require veterinarians to be licensed. The requirements to earn a license vary from state to state, but all aspiring veterinarians must complete a veterinary training program and pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam. The exam is offered by the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners (NBVME).

Step 4: Consider a Specialty

Some equine veterinarians pursue advanced training in a specialty, such as internal medicine, surgery, neurology, dentistry or preventive medicine. To become specialists, veterinarians must complete 3-4 years of residency training in an area of expertise approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Equine veterinarians are then eligible to apply for board certification in their specialties.

Equine veterinarians typically hold a bachelor’s degree in a related field, with an emphasis on science and math, although some schools will consider applicants who have earned a minimum number of undergraduate credits. Veterinary school takes four years to complete and includes a combination of classroom and clinical training. State licensing is required, and with additional training and testing, board certification in a specialty, such as equine care, is available.

Veterinarians must make a significant educational and financial commitment to become board certified in one of the many specialty areas of the profession. Certification as a veterinary specialist generally requires an additional two to three years of study plus passing an intensive exam. A specialty residency also must be completed under the supervision of a board-certified specialist in the field. 

Currently recognized board certifications include many areas such as anesthesiology, behavior, clinical pharmacology, dermatology, emergency and critical care, internal medicine, lab animal medicine, microbiology, nutrition, ophthalmology, pathology, radiology, surgery, theriogenology, toxicology, zoological medicine, and a number of species-specific options (poultry, equine, cattle, etc).

equine vet school requirements

To pursue a career as an equine vet, you’ll need to complete a general veterinary degree at an approved Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) university. There are currently seven vet schools in the UK. Depending on the university, this is a five or six-year course. You may then specialise in subjects such as internal medicine or surgery once qualified. A-levels, SCE Highers or equivalent in both Chemistry and Biology with Maths as a possible third subject are required to apply for this degree; you’ll also benefit from appropriate work experience in a veterinary practice. ‘A’ grades are expected. Contact the university you are interested in for specific entry information.

Spending time doing work experience is invaluable in gaining a full insight into a veterinary career and is very strongly advised to anyone considering it. As well as giving a real understanding of this challenging, but hugely rewarding job, including the long hours and client expectations. A period of work experience with vets would be seen very positively by university admissions boards. 

There are two pathways available to become a veterinary nurse; a vocational qualification or a higher education qualification. You must complete one of these pathways and be a general veterinary nurse before being able to specialise in equine nursing.

Vocational Pathway
This is perfect if you want hands-on experience and training on the job. The Level 3 Diploma in Veterinary Nursing is a vocational qualification designed to prepare veterinary nurses for professional registration on the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons’ Register of Veterinary Nurses. It is available on either a full-time basis or apprenticeship-style alongside a job in a vet practice.

Higher Education Pathway
A degree course will take a little longer than a vocational qualification and is more academic, although still requiring work experience. A degree in veterinary nursing can lead to additional career opportunities, such as research, the pharmaceutical industry and teaching, in addition to work in clinical veterinary practice. A number of institutions offer full-time integrated higher education courses leading to a Foundation or Honours Degree in veterinary nursing. The RCVS Certificate in Veterinary Nursing is also awarded to all graduates of courses approved by the RCVS.

AVMA Report on Veterinary Compensation

The American Veterinary Medical Association’s 2011 Report on Veterinary Compensation included a comprehensive survey of the professional income earned by veterinary specialists. The specialties with the highest median incomes were ophthalmology ($199,000), lab animal medicine ($169,000), pathology ($157,000), surgery ($133,000), internal medicine ($127,000), radiology ($121,000), and theriogenology ($121,000). In comparison, veterinarians without board certification earned a median income of $91,000 per year.

The financial rewards for veterinary specialists in the 90th percentile proved even more impressive in the survey. Top ophthalmologists and radiologists could earn more than $345,468 per year. Top pathologists could earn more than $267,000 per year. Top surgeons could earn more than $250,061 per year, and top lab animal medicine specialists could earn more than $246,000 per year. In comparison, top veterinarians without board certification earned $187,000.

Board Certification

Board certification also made a big difference in professional earnings for veterinarians working in private practice and public/corporate employment. The median income of private practice veterinarians without board certification was $91,000 per year, while those with board certification had a median income of $157,000 per year. The median income of public/corporate veterinarians (in academia, government, armed services, or industry) without board certification was also $91,000 per year, while those with board certification earned a median income of $133,000 per year.

When focusing exclusively on the earnings of veterinarians in private practice, the AVMA survey noted stronger earnings for board-certified veterinarians across all categories. Food animal exclusive veterinarians without board certification earned a median salary of $103,000 per year, while board-certified veterinarians in this type of practice earned a median salary of $187,000 per year. 

Companion animal exclusive veterinarians without board certification earned a median salary of $91,000 per year, while board certified practitioners earned a median salary of $160,000 per year. Equine veterinarians without board certification earned a median salary of $79,000 per year, while those with board certification earned a median salary of $148,000 per year.

This trend continued when focusing exclusively on the earnings of veterinarians in public/corporate employment, with board-certified veterinarians earning higher salaries in all categories surveyed. Veterinarians working in academia earned a median salary of $73,000 per year, while those with board certification earned a median salary of $127,000 per year. 

Working for the Federal Government

Veterinarians working for the federal government earned a median salary of $103,000 per year, while those with board certification earned a median salary of $124,000 per year. Veterinarians working in uniformed services earned a median salary of $85,000 per year, while those with board certification earned a median salary of $91,000 per year. Veterinarians working in this industry earned a median salary of $133,000 per year, while those with board certification earned a median salary of $181,000.

Conclusion

Achieving board certification is a significant undertaking for any veterinarian, though the financial rewards can certainly be quite significant. Board certified veterinarians consistently earned much higher salaries when compared to veterinarians holding just the basic DVM degree. The difference in salary between DVM only and board-certified veterinarians was particularly significant in the private practice income surveys.

Veterinary medicine is an economically stable profession with a salary that tends to increase steadily with each year of practice. In addition to years of experience, other factors influencing a veterinarian’s salary include the type of practice, geographic location, and whether the vet is a partner or an associate.

Compensation Overview

The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports that vets earn a median salary of $93,830. The best-paid veterinarians earn $162,450, while the lowest-paid earn $56,540.¹

Veterinarians surveyed by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) reported 67% of veterinarians’ incomes were between $60,000 and $150,000.²

Starting Salaries for Veterinarians

Most veterinarians specialize in an animal category, and earnings depend on the type of veterinary practice in which you’re working. The American Veterinary Medical Association found some variations in starting salary based on the area of specialization.

 Companion animals include domestic pets, such as dogs, cats, and other small animals like rabbits, gerbils, and hamsters. Companion animal veterinarian clinic practices employ the most veterinarians. According to the 2019 AVMA Economic State of the Veterinary Profession, small animal vets start at a mean salary of $87,000 a year.³⁴

The starting salary for large animal exclusive vets is about $75,000. These veterinarians are also known as food animal vets (those treating farm animals like cows and pigs), zoological, or exotic animal vets.⁵

Some vets serve more than one animal category (generalize), and these are known as mixed animal vets.

Mixed practice vets start with an average salary of $75,000.⁴

Equine vets (those treating horses) start at the lowest salary, just above $50,000 a year. These are both the lowest paid and least common vets in the United States. Many equine vets work as mixed animal vets.⁴

Veterinarian Salary by Experience Level

The average salary of a veterinarian steadily increases as they gain more experience. An internship after veterinary school may be required to gain additional experience if the vet wants to specialize.

Most veterinary post-graduate internships are paid, though it’s often at a lower rate than an entry-level job.

• Internship: Pursuing an internship is optional. However, internships are a path toward specialization and potentially higher earnings. An internship is also an opportunity to gain mentorship experience that helps vets climb faster in the industry. According to the AVMA, vets who start their careers with an internship receive a mean starting salary of $32,894.⁶
• Entry-Level: An increasing number of graduated vets start directly in public or private practice and begin receiving entry-level salaries. First-year vets can expect to earn an average annual salary of between $70,000 and $85,000, according to the 2019 AVMA Economic State of the Veterinary Profession. The AVMA found some variations in starting salary based on the area of specialization, as noted above.⁴
• Mid-Level: After practicing veterinary medicine for a few years, veterinarians begin earning closer to the national average salary for vets at $84,555 annually, according to PayScale.⁷ Some private practices offer profit sharing and bonus incentives for their experienced doctors. Also, mid-level vets caring for companion animals are in higher demand and are likely to make above the average salary.
• Experienced: The AVMA reports that veterinarians with board certification in a specialty area command average incomes exceeding $150,000 a year,⁴ while PayScale reports the salary of a generalist averages $88,326 a year before profit sharing and commissions.⁸
• Late Career (Partners): Partners in a practice have earnings that significantly outpace those of hired associates. According to PayScale, the average salary for late-career vets (non-specialized) is $91,752 and can be as high as $143,000, including regular salary, profit sharing, and dividends.⁹

Salary by Type of Practice

Veterinarians work in a variety of industries in addition to private veterinary practices. With law enforcement and military branches using more animals to assist with security and locating contraband materials, local and national governments now require veterinarians. Some veterinarians conduct scientific research, and others hold faculty or staff positions in veterinary schools.

Commercial and Consulting: Commercial vets make the most money, with a mean annual salary of $160,000. These practices are for-profit practices specializing in one of the veterinary types listed above. The next highest-paid vet is the consultant, averaging around $150,000 a year.¹⁰ These vets may practice on animals while also providing industry guidance to other practices. 

Research and Education: Veterinary professors earn an average salary of $120,000 a year. As in all medical fields, discoveries further enable more sustainable treatment of diseases and disorders. The same is true in the field of animal care. Vet researchers earn a mean salary of about $110,000 a year.¹⁰

Private Practice (Companion, Mixed, Food, & Equine): Private practices generally specialize, as noted above, by type of veterinarian. Companion animal practice vets generally earn the most, at an average of $110,000 a year. Mixed animal vets are generalists and earn an average annual income of $100,000 a year.

Food animal practice vets (usually treating farm animals) average about $100,000 annually, as well. The lowest-earning vet practices are equine (horses), with their vets paid a mean annual salary of $90,000.¹⁰

Government & Military: Veterinarians working within the federal government or the armed forces also generate a mean income of about $100,000 a year. These vets often work with dogs, such as therapy or security dogs.

State and local governments need vets for their law enforcement dogs and other animals critical to government work. Also, local government-funded animal control facilities need vets to assist with diseased animals. These vets do about as well financially as federal and military vets, with an estimated annual income of $100,000.¹⁰

Non-profit Practices: Non-profit rescue organizations also employ vets, who earn a mean salary of about $90,000 a year.¹

Salary by Location

Geography also plays a role in determining the amount that a vet can expect to earn.

Vets in major metropolitan areas tend to make more money but must also take into account the higher cost of living.

According to Zippia, the top 10 best-paying states for veterinarian salaries are Delaware, Arizona, Texas, Vermont, New Jersey, Alaska, Ohio, New Hampshire, California, and New York.¹¹

Job Outlook for Veterinarians

The BLS projects 15,600 new jobs will open in the field by the year 2028. Veterinarian jobs are set to grow by about 18%, compared with 16% in growth for other health diagnosing and treating practitioners occupations.¹

Estimate Your Earnings Potential

Becoming a qualified veterinarian requires a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree. To help aspiring vets plan for the future, the AVMA developed a compensation calculator. It is simple to use and can forecast income after graduation.

For example, if a student plans to graduate in 2020 at 23 years of age, work in a private practice that services companion animals in Ohio, and carry $50,000 in college debt, then the calculator forecasts that graduate’s salary to be between $75,000 and $84,000 a year.