How do I get started as a vet?

After you graduate, you'll need to attend a veterinary school. During your four years there, you'll learn the theoretical side of veterinary medicine and get to put it into practice during clinical rotations. Once you graduate as a doctor of veterinary medicine, you'll need to obtain your national and state licenses.

Once you accomplish this, you're legally a vet, but in order to get the job you want, it's a good idea to pursue an internship or residency program. There you can get professional experience while learning from an experienced veterinarian.

If there's a specific specialty you want to enter, this is also the time to enter a specialization program, although you can also wait to do this until after you've worked a few years. In a specialization program, you'll gain experience working with a seasoned professional who works in the specialty you want to enter.

Specializing, while it isn't necessary, opens doors to new career paths and higher paychecks. It can also allow you to do the type of veterinary work that most interests you, making your career even more rewarding.