WHAT EXPERIENCE DO I NEED FOR VETERINARY SCHOOL?
Experience working under the direction of a veterinarian, working directly with animals and/or working in a research setting long has been a valued qualification for veterinary school applicants.
The weight given to experience has waxed and waned over time, and varies from school to school. VMCAS asks all applicants to report experience hours, specifying the type of experience, on their application.
Presently, many programs are reducing their required number of hours, or not specifying a set number. Nevertheless, all schools consider experience (type and quality counts, as well) when evaluating a candidate’s overall fit for their program. Even as minimum expected hours are decreasing or eliminated, schools do still take experience under consideration and many students log more than 1,000 hours before they apply to veterinary school.
Updated March 2024 with the latest information provided by the schools. Additional information will be available soon.
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 250
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 200
Notes: Partial credit may be given for less than 200 hours
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 150
Notes: 150 hours recommended but not required
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 240
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Notes: No minimum number of hours set, but hours are required
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 200
Notes: This school recommends students aim for at least 500 veterinary hours.
Notes: Unclear if hours are required
Minimum hours required?: No
Notes: This school recommends 400+ hours to be more competetive when applying
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 100
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: No
Notes: Unclear if hours are required
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 200
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 180
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 250
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 40
Minimum hours required?: No
Notes: At least 500-600 hours recommended
Minimum hours required?: No
Notes: 400 or more hours recommended
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 100
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 500
