Types of Licenses and Exams You Will Need
Some animal-related careers require you to have a license to practice. Licenses are different for each profession. Veterinarian and veterinary technicians both need licenses to work. Veterinarians who work in food inspection and agriculture are required to get a license different from that of a vet who runs a small clinic treating cats and dogs. You apply for your license, for which you must pass an exam, after completing your degree program.
To become a board-certified equine surgeon, an animal dentist, or other specialist, you will have to satisfy additional residency training requirements and pass another exam. Exams vary from state to state. If you are licensed to practice in New York State and move to Vermont, you will have to pass an exam to run your veterinary clinic in Vermont. Each state licenses veterinarians and veterinary technicians separately.
What is the difference between a DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) and a VMD (Veterinary Medical Doctor)?
Basically there is no difference between the two. They are equivalent degrees. A VMD is someone who graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, and a DVM is someone who graduated from another accredited school in the United States or Canada.
The North American Veterinary Licensing Exam is an eight-hour test that consists of 360 multiple-choice questions. Since licenses vary from state to state, so do the exam questions. The questions found on these examinations cover all aspects of veterinary medicine. These exams also have a section that tests one's diagnostic skills. For more information about veterinary and veterinary specialty licenses, contact the AVMA at
If you work for a government-sponsored agency on the state or federal level, you may be asked to take and pass a civil service exam that is specific to your job. Mounted police officers and K-9 police trainers also must pass civil service exams. Not every agency requires these exams, but some do.
In the state of New York, as well as in other states, some civil service exams are scheduled on an annual basis. Other examinations are held on a continual basis if a position needs to be filled. Most civil service exams are multiple-choice questions that relate directly to specific jobs. In addition to the multiple-choice test, other parts of the exam includes an essay, an oral test, a performance test, a computer-administered test, and an evaluation of training and experience.
