Veterinary degree programs vary by country, with some requiring a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and others awarding bachelor’s degrees. Programs generally take between four and six years to complete and include field practice and licensing exams. Transferring qualifications between countries can be difficult due to accreditation standards.
There are several types of veterinary degree programs that students can complete to enter the profession, depending on where they attend school and intend to practice. Several nations require a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, while other nations operate degree programs that are considered equivalent to that degree in the home country. Educational institutions in these countries generally issue a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine or similar degree. These programs, however, consist of about six years of study, rather than the usual four-year requirement of most bachelor’s degree programs. As most nations will require completion of a licensing process to practice upon graduation, most education programs will focus on field practice in addition to meeting regulatory requirements for the relevant licensing exams.
Countries in the North American hemisphere, such as the United States and Canada, generally require aspiring veterinarians to graduate from accredited veterinary degree programs that award the title of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine. This program generally consists of four years of study beyond the baccalaureate level. To qualify for entry into the program, applicants are expected to have an undergraduate degree that focuses on biological sciences or pre-veterinary courses. Upon graduation from the Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program, students are generally required to complete a residency in veterinary medicine before becoming eligible to take the required licensing exams.
In contrast to the North American model, many nations use a degree model to prepare candidates for many professional occupations. Typically, these veterinary degree programs will award one of several bachelor’s degrees to include the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine, the Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery, and the Bachelor of Veterinary Science. This model of educational preparation is found in the UK and Australia, as well as in other European countries. The length of programs varies by educational institution and regulatory requirements, but generally takes between five and six years to complete.
Transferring educational qualifications between nations, however, is not always straightforward. Often, the deciding factor is whether the veterinary degree programs attended have relevant accreditation that equals or exceeds standards in the corresponding jurisdiction. For example, the transfer of credentials between the United States and Canada is quite straightforward due to reciprocal agreements and the use of the same standard exams in determining eligibility for licensure. Applicants going to the United States from the UK with a Bachelor of Veterinary Science, for example, may run into problems and still need to complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program to qualify for licensure to practice in the United States.
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