To become a veterinarian in the United States, you will need to complete the following steps:

1. Earn a bachelors degree: While any bachelors degree can act as a springboard to vet school, some programs can better prepare you for the topics youll cover in veterinary school. These include pre-veterinary medicine, animal science, biochemistry, zoology, and biology.

2. Complete prerequisite courses: Most U.S. veterinary schools require specific college courses, including two semesters of general chemistry with lab, two semesters of organic chemistry with lab, two semesters of physics with lab, and two semesters of biology with lab.

3. Gain experience: Veterinary schools typically require applicants to have experience working with animals. This can include volunteering at an animal shelter, working at a veterinary clinic, or shadowing a veterinarian.

4. Apply to veterinary school: To work as a veterinarian in the U.S., youll need to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree from an accredited school. There are 30 veterinary schools accredited by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in the U.S. .

5. Pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE): This exam is required to practice veterinary medicine in the U.S. .

It typically takes eight years of education and training to become a veterinarian in the U.S. . This includes four years of undergraduate education and four years of veterinary school.