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Veterinary school is generally entered following completion
of a bachelor's degree program. Admission to U.S. veterinary
schools is extremely difficult for students from other countries
to achieve because of intense competition for a limited number
of places. Competition for veterinary study is even more rigorous
than that for study in medicine.
Only 27 schools of veterinary medicine exist in the United
States. Of these, 25 are largely state-financed, with tax
money from state residents supporting the school. Therefore,
applicants from that state are generally given first preference.
Only about a third of all those applying to U.S. veterinary
schools are accepted by any one of the schools that they apply
to, and the number of international applicants accepted is
extremely small.
Most veterinary colleges participate in the Veterinary Medical
College Application Service (VMCAS), which allows applicants
to submit a common application for multiple schools. The primary
consideration for admission is the quality of the undergraduate
record. More than half of veterinary schools also require
the Veterinary Aptitude Test, with some schools accepting
the Medical College Admission Test or Graduate Record Examination.
For information on VMCAS, contact the service at 1101 Vermont
Avenue, N.W., Suite 411, Washington, DC 20005, U.S.A.; Telephone:
202-682-0750; Email: vmcas@aavmc.org.
One alternative to veterinary school is to enter a graduate
program in animal sciences. Competition for these programs
is less intense. Graduates of animal science programs are
not certified for veterinary practice but may be qualified
for a range of positions in agricultural industries, government,
or university research and teaching.
U.S. veterinary schools offer a four-year program. Graduates
receive the first professional degree, the doctor of veterinary
medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.).
Postgraduate Training
Several alternatives for postgraduate training in the United
States exist for foreign-trained veterinarians with the equivalent
of the D.V.M. Veterinary schools offer postgraduate academic
programs leading to a master's or doctoral degree. These programs
are not designed to lead toward clinical practice but rather
to teaching positions in veterinary schools or employment
by pharmaceutical companies or research careers.
Another postgraduate option is residency training leading
toward board certification in a specialty such as veterinary
ophthalmology or veterinary pathology. Such residency training,
also affiliated with veterinary schools, takes three years
and involves a combination of academic and clinical experience.
Short-term training and exchanges with U.S. veterinary schools
and related organizations may also be arranged in some cases.
To practice veterinary medicine in most of the United States,
internationally trained veterinarians must hold certification
from the American Veterinary Medical Association's Educational
Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates (ECFVG). In all
states, veterinarians must also be licensed. For more information,
contact the American Veterinary Medical Association, 1931
North Meacham Road, Suite 100, Schaumburg, IL 60173, USA;
Telephone: 847-925-8070; Fax: 847-925-1329; E-mail: AVMAINFO@avma.org;
Web site: http://www.avma.org/.
Related Links
Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
http://www.aavmc.org
American Veterinary Medical Association
http://www.avma.org
National Board Examination Committee for Veterinary Medicine
http://www.nbec.org
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