Veterinarians – NOC : 3114

Unit Group

3114 Veterinarians

Veterinarians prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and disorders in animals and advise clients on the feeding, hygiene, housing and general care of animals. Veterinarians work in private practice or may be employed by animal clinics, farms, laboratories, government or industry.

Example Titles

farm veterinarian

small animal veterinary specialist

veterinarian

veterinary inspector

veterinary pathologist

veterinary physiologist

veterinary surgeon

zoo veterinarian

View all titles

Main duties

Veterinarians perform 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 requirements

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
Completion of national certification examinations are required.
A provincial licence to practice is required.
Entry into research positions may require post-graduate study.

Additional information

The duties of veterinarians performing research may be similar to those of some biologists.

Classified elsewhere

Animal health technologists and veterinary technicians (3213)
Biologists and related scientists (2121)