Overview
Veterinarians prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and disorders in animals and advise clients on the feeding, hygiene, housing and general care of animals. They can also perform surgical procedures. They work in private practice or may be employed by animal clinics, farms, laboratories, government or industry.
This group performs some or all of the following duties:
Diagnose diseases or abnormal conditions in individual animals, herds and flocks through physical examinations or laboratory tests
Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds or performing surgery
Vaccinate animals to prevent and treat diseases
Perform routine, emergency and post-mortem examinations
Advise clients on feeding, housing, behaviour, breeding, hygiene and general care of animals
Provide a range of veterinary services including obstetrics, dentistry and euthanasia
May supervise animal health technologists and animal care workers
May be responsible for overall operation of animal hospital, clinic or mobile service to farms
May conduct veterinary research related to areas such as animal nutrition, health care products development and disease prevention and control
May enforce government regulations in disease control and food production including animal or animal-based food inspection.
Employment prospects
Annual salary
$74,206
$123,176
$150,413
Job openings
Use this interactive map to explore job openings in different regions across B.C.
Strong job outlook
British Columbia
388expected job openings (5-year forecast)
Education and training
Employment requirements
Doctor of veterinary medicine
Two years of pre-veterinary university studies or completion of a college program in health science and a four to five year university degree in veterinary medicine and successful completion of an examination leading to a national certification are required.
A provincial licence to practice is required.
Veterinary specialists
Completion of a degree in veterinary medicine and three to four years of additional postgraduate studies or residency program in the specialty of their choice are required.
Additional information
The duties of veterinarians performing research may be similar to those of some biologists.
Certification requirements
Mandatory: You need the following certification to practice as Veterinarians in B.C.
- Registration with the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia
Registration with the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia
Confirm with the certifying body that your intended program qualifies you for this certification.
To practice as a veterinarian in B.C., you must register with the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia. Eligibility is achieved through a Certificate of Qualification from the CVMA National Examining Board.
Post-secondary programs in B.C.
No programs available in B.C.
There are currently no programs offered at public post-secondary institutions in B.C. that will qualify you for this career. Please see the College of Veterinarians of British Columbia website for other options.