Beyond Private Practice: Five Amazing Career Opportunities for Veterinarians

Going into private practice after veterinary medical school is the popular route for most graduates. Statistics published by the AVMA reveal that as of December 2017, US veterinarians employed in private practice totaled 71,000 (~60%), with the large majority focused on companion animals.

Below we list five career opportunities veterinary school students and graduates can explore:

1. The US Armed Services: The armed services offers career opportunities including conducting research and testing on laboratory animals, providing treatment to bomb-sniffing dogs and caring for the beloved pets of service members. Elliot Garber, a veterinarian working in the U.S. Army blogs about his career in the Army as well as opportunities in the field.
    
2. The Federal Government: Agencies such as the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are primarily concerned with preventing/controlling the spread of animal-to-human (zoonotic) diseases. Other agencies that employ veterinarians are the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the National Institute for Health (NIH). Veterinarians can find positions in health science, program management, diagnostics and surgery, and environmental health.
    
3. Food Supply Medicine: Veterinarians working in food supply protect the health and welfare of animals that produce eggs, milk, meat, wool, and other protein and fiber products. Opportunities for veterinarians exist in Food Safety and Inspection Services (FSIS), the National Center for Zoonotic and Animal Disease Defense and corporations responsible for global food supply.
    
4. Public Health: Organizations such as the United States Public Health Service works to control the spread of diseases. Veterinary positions involve responding to human and animal disease outbreaks, monitoring vaccine development, managing disease prevention and control programs and conducting research.
    
5. Research: Opportunities for veterinarians to work in research exist in universities, government agencies and corporations. The National Cancer Institute has opportunities for recent veterinary graduates.

Additional opportunities for veterinarians are available in not-for-profit organizations, teaching, shelter medicine, global veterinary medicine and corporate veterinary medicine. Please visit the AVMA’s website for more information about veterinary career options.