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 April 2025 with the latest information provided by the schools.
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 500
Minimum hours required?: No
*A suggested target is 300-500 hours of veterinary experience.
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: No
*There is no minimum number of hours required to qualify for admission, but students meeting or exceeding the minimum of 200 hours are more likely to be admitted.
Minimum hours required?: No
*500 hours is recommended
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: No
*100-300 veterinary/animal experience hours is generally recommended in the area of the candidate’s interests.
Minimum hours required?: No
*It is recommended that applicants seek 150 hours of experience with a veterinarian.
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 240
Minimum hours required?: No
*If applicants need a target number, we recommend students aim for at least 500 veterinary hours.
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 200
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: No
*The Admissions Committee recommends gaining 500+ hours of veterinary experience
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 100
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: No
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 200
Minimum hours required?: Yes
Minimum hours veterinary experience: 300
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
*At least 500-600 hours recommended
Minimum hours required?: No
*400 or more hours recommended
Minimum hours required?: No
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: 300
*Candidates must complete at least 300 hours by the application deadline and 500 hours by June 1 of the following year
