Post job

Doctor of veterinary medicine education requirements

Updated January 8, 2025
4 min read

There are several educational requirements to become a doctor of veterinary medicine. Doctors of veterinary medicine usually study medicine, veterinary medicine, or alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems. 59% of doctors of veterinary medicine hold a doctoral degree, and 23% hold an bachelor's degree. We analyzed 318 real doctor of veterinary medicine resumes to see exactly what doctor of veterinary medicine education sections show.

The most common colleges for doctors of veterinary medicine are the Southwest Acupuncture College - Boulder and the Southwest Acupuncture College - Boulder.

There are also many online doctor of veterinary medicine courses to help get the education required to be a doctor of veterinary medicine.

What education do you need to become a doctor of veterinary medicine?

What degree do you need to be a doctor of veterinary medicine?

The most common degree for doctors of veterinary medicine is doctoral degree, with 59% of doctors of veterinary medicine earning that degree. The second and third most common degree levels are bachelor's degree degree at 23% and bachelor's degree degree at 11%.
  • Doctorate, 59%
  • Bachelor's, 23%
  • Master's, 11%
  • Associate, 2%
  • Other Degrees, 5%

What should I major in to become a doctor of veterinary medicine?

You should major in medicine to become a doctor of veterinary medicine. 37% of doctors of veterinary medicine major in medicine. Other common majors for a doctor of veterinary medicine include veterinary medicine and alternative and complementary medicine and medical systems.

Most common colleges for doctors of veterinary medicine

Doctors of veterinary medicine often get their degrees at Southwest Acupuncture College - Boulder, University of the Sciences, and Central State University. Here are the most common colleges for doctors of veterinary medicine in the US based on their resumes.
Doctor of veterinary medicine common collegePercentages
Southwest Acupuncture College - Boulder11.76%
University of the Sciences11.76%
Central State University8.82%
University of Florida5.88%
New York College of Podiatric Medicine5.88%

Best majors for doctors of veterinary medicine

RankMajorPercentages
1Medicine37.1%
2Veterinary Medicine16.8%
3Alternative And Complementary Medicine And Medical Systems9.0%
4Biology4.8%
5Podiatric Medicine4.2%

Best colleges for doctors of veterinary medicine

The best colleges for doctors of veterinary medicine are Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell University.

A doctor of veterinary medicine with advanced education typically earns a higher salary and has access to better jobs. That's why Zippia looked into the best colleges for doctors of veterinary medicine. We based this list on several metrics: admissions rate, retention rate, mean earnings of graduates, the ratio of working vs. non-working students ten years after admission, the average cost of attendance, and median debt for graduates who become doctors of veterinary medicine.

1. Texas A&M University

College Station, TX • Private

In-state tuition

$11,870

Enrollment

53,194

2. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Enrollment

34,564

3. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

In-state tuition

$55,584

Enrollment

10,764

4. University of Wisconsin - Madison

Madison, WI • Private

In-state tuition

$10,555

Enrollment

30,360

5. University of California - Davis

Davis, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$14,402

Enrollment

30,698

6. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$55,188

Enrollment

15,105

7. University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Minneapolis, MN • Private

In-state tuition

$14,760

Enrollment

31,451

8. Ohio State University

Columbus, OH • Private

In-state tuition

$10,726

Enrollment

45,769

9. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

In-state tuition

$51,354

Enrollment

7,083

10. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

In-state tuition

$56,382

Enrollment

5,597

20 best online courses for doctors of veterinary medicine

Advertising disclosure

1. Traditional herbal medicine in supportive cancer care: From alternative to integrative

coursera

Please join us for an exciting and innovative journey, examining one of the most important and often overlooked aspects of the oncology setting: Traditional Herbal Medicine in Supportive Cancer Care. This course is presented with short lectures offering a wide range of issues related to the principles and practice of herbal medicine in cancer care. The course includes interviews with leading world experts from the field of Integrative Oncology, from the U.S. and Canada, as well as Europe, the...

2. Clinical Kidney, Pancreas and Islet Transplantation

coursera

Kidney transplantation is a major advance of modern medicine which provides high-quality of life for patients with end-stage renal disease. What used to be an experimental, risky, and very limited treatment option more than 50 years ago is now routinely performed in many countries worldwide. The number of renal transplants is expected to rise sharply in the next decade since the proportion of patients with end stage renal disease is increasing. Are you interested in clinical kidney, pancreas...

3. Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine Advanced Diploma

udemy
4.3
(1,105)

A complete program in one course, This Diploma is an Encyclopedia in The Natural Medicine field...

4. Doctor of Natural Medicine

udemy
4.4
(624)

This course is a mini encyclopedia in natural medicine field...

5. Everyday Chinese Medicine

coursera

This course aims to serve as an education platform on Chinese medicine (CM) for the general public. Our primary goal is to empower healthcare choices by promoting awareness and practical application on CM diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, as well as regulation on CM services and herbal products using international examples. In the first part of this course, learners will develop skills in applying basic theory of Chinese medicine (CM) for understanding health and illnesses, and be able to...

6. Prehospital care of acute stroke and patient selection for endovascular treatment using the RACE scale

coursera

Acute stroke is a time-dependent medical emergency. In acute ischemic stroke, the first objective is to restore brain flow using sistemic thrombolytic treatment and, in patients with large vessel occlusion, by endovascular treatment. In hemorrhagic stroke there are also specific treatments that can improve the clinical outcome. The sooner the initiation of all these therapies the higher the clinical benefit. Thus, the organization of Stroke Code systems coordinated between emergency medical...

7. Herbalism:: Medicinal Mushrooms Certificate

udemy
4.4
(429)

Learn the top mushrooms used in holistic and natural medicine that are most effective, safe and easily available...

8. Introduction to Longevity Medicine

udemy
4.4
(344)

A Medical Guide to Longevity Medicine for Physicians...

9. Health After Cancer: Cancer Survivorship for Primary Care

coursera

This course presents basic principles of cancer survivorship to primary-care physicians. Developed by a team of experts in caring for cancer survivors, and narrated by a primary-care physician, this course provides practical tips and tools that can be easily integrated into medical practice. You will learn about the complex physical and psychosocial needs and concerns of the growing number of cancer survivors, along with the key role that primary care physicians have in guiding these patients...

10. Case Studies in Personalized Medicine

coursera

Learn how advances in biomedicine hold the potential to revolutionize drug development, drug treatments, and disease prevention: where are we now, and what does the future hold? This course will present short primers in genetics and mechanisms underlying variability in drug responses. A series of case studies will be used to illustrate principles of how genetics are being brought to bear on refining diagnoses and on personalizing treatment in rare and common diseases. The ethical and...

11. Herbalism:: Introduction & Medicine Making Certificate

udemy
4.7
(13,479)

Take charge of your health with herbal medicine. Using herbs and natural holistic medicine is easy, effective and safe...

12. Herbalism:: Growing Top Medicinal Plants Certificate

udemy
4.8
(687)

Growing your own herbal medicine is easy and allows you to have quick access to medicinal plants when you need them...

13. Trauma Emergencies and Care

coursera

Welcome to Trauma Emergencies and Care. In this course, you will learn about some of the mechanics and physics of trauma on the human body, and how this can cause injury. You will continue to expand your new vocabulary with medical terminology, and learn how to describe the different injuries you may see. You will also learn about the trauma system itself- and when it is important to transport patients to a trauma center. Then we will dive into specific injuries based on what part of the body...

14. Emergency Care: Pregnancy, Infants, and Children

coursera

Welcome to the final course of lectures in your quest to master EMT basics. In this course, we will cover some of the highest-stress patient populations: pregnant patients and kids, also known as pediatrics. To wrap up your EMT knowledge we will end this course with information about hazmat situations, extricating patients from tight spots and finally how you write a note about your patient care. You will learn to ensure it communicates what your assessment of the patient was, what...

15. Herbalism:: Medicinal Kitchen Herbs & Spices Certificate

udemy
4.8
(1,168)

Discover how common kitchen herbs and spices are used as herbal medicine and natural medicine for ultimate health...

16. Medical Terminology 101

udemy
4.4
(752)

For those in healthcare, billing, and more. Boost earning ability and marketable skills by learning to speak medicine...

17. Addiction Treatment: Clinical Skills for Healthcare Providers

coursera

This course is designed with a singular goal: to improve the care you provide to your patients with substance use disorders. By delving into a model case performed by actors, seven Yale instructors from various fields provide techniques to screen your patients for substance use disorder risk, diagnose patients to gauge the severity of their use, directly manage treatment plans, refer out to treatment services, and navigate the various conditions that may limit your patient’s access to treatment...

18. Value-Based Care: Managing Processes to Improve Outcomes

coursera

COURSE 3 of 7. This course is designed to introduce you to critical office-based processes that a value-based practice must manage in the drive towards improved patient outcomes. In Module 2, we’ll focus on office-based and clinical patient-based supporting functions. At every level in healthcare, guidelines, processes, and functions exist to improve outcomes, and following a consistent process will return the best effect. Refine your understanding of value and learn strategies to provide real...

19. Medical Emergencies: Airway, Breathing, and Circulation

coursera

In this course, you will develop the knowledge and skills to assess and stabilize certain types of patients for transport. By the end of this course, you will be able to: 1) assess a basic medical patient 2) describe general pharmacologic principles and the skills associated with medication administration, 3) explain airway physiology, the assessment of the airway and available interventions for airway management, 4) identify, assess and formulate a plan to stabilize a patient with a...

20. Health for All Through Primary Health Care

coursera

This course explores why primary health care is central for achieving Health for All. It provides examples of how primary health care has been instrumental in approaching this goal in selected populations and how the principles of primary health care can guide future policies and actions. Two of the most inspiring, least understood, and most often derided terms in global health discourse are “Health for All” and “Primary Health Care.” In this course, we will explore these terms in the context...

Top 10 most affordable universities for doctors of veterinary medicine

The most affordable schools for doctors of veterinary medicine are University of Florida, florida international university, and suny farmingdale.

If the best universities for doctors of veterinary medicine are out of your price range, check out these affordable schools. After factoring in in-state tuition and fees, the average cost of attendance, admissions rate, average net price, and mean earnings after six years, we found that these are the most affordable schools for doctors of veterinary medicine.

1. University of Florida

Gainesville, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,381

Cost of attendance

21,034

2. Florida International University

Miami, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,556

Cost of attendance

19,434

3. SUNY Farmingdale

Farmingdale, NY • Private

In-state tuition

$8,306

Cost of attendance

16,091

4. Florida State University

Tallahassee, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$5,656

Cost of attendance

21,623

5. University of South Florida

Tampa, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,410

Cost of attendance

20,456

6. Florida Atlantic University

Boca Raton, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$4,831

Cost of attendance

19,559

7. Purdue University

West Lafayette, IN • Private

In-state tuition

$9,992

Cost of attendance

22,430

8. University of Central Florida

Orlando, FL • Private

In-state tuition

$6,368

Cost of attendance

21,034

9. Brigham Young University

Provo, UT • Private

In-state tuition

$5,620

Cost of attendance

18,136

10. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Chapel Hill, NC • Private

In-state tuition

$8,987

Cost of attendance

25,527

Top 10 hardest universities to get into for doctors of veterinary medicine

The hardest universities for doctors of veterinary medicine to get into are Stanford University, University of Pennsylvania, and Cornell University.

Some great schools for doctors of veterinary medicine are hard to get into, but they also set your career up for greater success. The list below shows the most challenging universities to get into for doctors of veterinary medicine based on an institution's admissions rates, average SAT scores accepted, median ACT scores accepted, and mean earnings of students six years after admission.

1. Stanford University

Stanford, CA • Private

Admissions rate

4%

SAT average

1,497

2. University of Pennsylvania

Philadelphia, PA • Private

Admissions rate

8%

SAT average

1,492

3. Cornell University

Ithaca, NY • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,471

4. Duke University

Durham, NC • Private

Admissions rate

9%

SAT average

1,516

5. Vanderbilt University

Nashville, TN • Private

Admissions rate

10%

SAT average

1,514

6. Johns Hopkins University

Baltimore, MD • Private

Admissions rate

11%

SAT average

1,513

7. Tufts University

Medford, MA • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,461

8. Yale University

New Haven, CT • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,517

9. Columbia University in the City of New York

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

6%

SAT average

1,512

10. Georgetown University

Washington, DC • Private

Admissions rate

15%

SAT average

1,456

Top 10 easy-to-apply-to universities for doctors of veterinary medicine

The easiest schools for doctors of veterinary medicine to get into are AdventHealth University, d'youville college, and nyack college.

Some schools are much easier to get into. If you want to start your career as a doctor of veterinary medicine without much hassle, check out the list of schools where you will be accepted in no time. We compiled admissions rates, average SAT scores, average ACT scores, and average salary of students six years after graduation to uncover which were the easiest schools to get into for doctors of veterinary medicine.

1. AdventHealth University

Orlando, FL • Private

Admissions rate

87%

SAT average

1,016

2. D'Youville College

Buffalo, NY • Private

Admissions rate

100%

SAT average

1,072

3. Nyack College

New York, NY • Private

Admissions rate

98%

SAT average

999

4. Gwynedd Mercy University

Gwynedd Valley, PA • Private

Admissions rate

92%

SAT average

1,031

5. Oklahoma Wesleyan University

Bartlesville, OK • Private

Admissions rate

68%

SAT average

964

6. La Roche College

Pittsburgh, PA • Private

Admissions rate

99%

SAT average

1,008

7. Saint Joseph's College of Maine

Standish, ME • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,069

8. Aultman College of Nursing and Health Sciences

Canton, OH • Private

Admissions rate

75%

SAT average

1,085

9. Mount Saint Mary's University

Los Angeles, CA • Private

Admissions rate

84%

SAT average

1,031

10. Saint Martin's University

Lacey, WA • Private

Admissions rate

96%

SAT average

1,111

Average doctor of veterinary medicine salary by education level

Doctor of veterinary medicine education levelDoctor of veterinary medicine salary
Doctorate Degree$154,561

Doctor of veterinary medicine education FAQs

Search for doctor of veterinary medicine jobs

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Research Team
Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Browse healthcare practitioner and technical jobs