Veterinarians
Veterinarians prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and disorders in animals and advise clients on the feeding, hygiene, housing and general care of animals. They can also perform surgical procedures.
Good
Market Demand
TEER 1
Skill Level
MB, NS, AB
Top Provinces
What They Do
- 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.
Qualifications
- checkDoctor of veterinary medicine
- checkTwo years of pre-veterinary university studies or completion of a college program in health science anda four to five year university degree in veterinary medicineandsuccessful completion of an examination leading to a national certification are required.
- checkA provincial licence to practice is required.
- checkVeterinary specialists
- checkCompletion of a degree in veterinary medicine and three to four years of additional postgraduate studies or residency program in the specialty of their choice are required.
- checkVeterinary specialists must be accredited by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) or the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP). In Quebec, they must be accredited by the Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec and only 18 specialties are recognized.
- checkA provincial license to practice is required.
- checkResearch veterinarian
- checkTwo 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 successful completion of an examination leading to a national certification are required.
- checkEntry into research positions may require postgraduate study.
Market Outlook by Province
Manitoba
The employment outlook will be Good for veterinarians (NOC 31103) in Manitoba for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.Here are some key facts about veterinarians in Manitoba: Approximately 400 people worked in this occupation in May 2021. Veterinarians mainly work in the following sectors: Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 83%Federal government public administration (NAICS 911): 10%Provincial and territorial public administration (NAICS 912): 6% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 87% compared to 81% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 13% compared to 19% for all occupations79% of veterinarians work all year, while 21% work only part of the year, compared to 65% and 35% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 48 weeks compared to 43 weeks for all occupations.34% of veterinarians are self-employed compared to an average of 12% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 27% compared to 53% for all occupations Women: 73% compared to 47% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: n/a high school diploma or equivalent: n/a apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a bachelor's degree: n/a university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 8% for all occupations
Good
Outlook
Nova Scotia
The employment outlook will be Good for veterinarians (NOC 31103) in Nova Scotia for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.Recent graduates from fields of study related to this occupation have found it easy to find work.Here are some key facts about veterinarians in Nova Scotia: Approximately 300 people worked in this occupation in May 2021. Veterinarians mainly work in the following sectors: Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 94%Religious, grant-making, civic, and professional and similar organizations (NAICS 813): 6% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 88% compared to 82% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 13% compared to 18% for all occupations78% of veterinarians work all year, while 22% work only part of the year, compared to 62% and 38% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 48 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.28% of veterinarians are self-employed compared to an average of 11% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 28% compared to 51% for all occupations Women: 72% compared to 49% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: n/a high school diploma or equivalent: n/a apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a bachelor's degree: n/a university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 10% for all occupations
Good
Outlook
Alberta
The employment outlook will be Good for veterinarians (NOC 31103) in Alberta for the 2025-2027 period.The following factors contributed to this outlook:Employment growth will lead to a moderate number of new positions.A moderate number of positions will become available due to retirements.There are a small number of unemployed workers with recent experience in this occupation.Here are some key facts about veterinarians in Alberta: Approximately 1,750 people work in this occupation. Veterinarians mainly work in the following sectors: Other professional, scientific and technical services (NAICS 5414, 5416-5419): 87% The distribution of full-time and part-time workers in this occupation is:Full-time workers: 88% compared to 80% for all occupationsPart-time workers: 12% compared to 20% for all occupations73% of veterinarians work all year, while 27% work only part of the year, compared to 61% and 39% respectively among all occupations. Those who worked only part of the year did so for an average of 45 weeks compared to 42 weeks for all occupations.37% of veterinarians are self-employed compared to an average of 15% for all occupations.The gender distribution of people in this occupation is: Men: 40% compared to 53% for all occupations Women: 60% compared to 47% for all occupations The educational attainment of workers in this occupation is: no high school diploma: n/a high school diploma or equivalent: n/a apprenticeship or trades certificate or diploma: n/a college certificate or diploma or university certificate below bachelor's: n/a bachelor's degree: n/a university certificate, degree or diploma above bachelor level: more than 95% compared to 9% for all occupations
Good
Outlook
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Immigration Pathways
TEER 1 occupations typically require a university degree and qualify for Express Entry. These are high-priority for STEM and healthcare category draws.
Express Entry (FSW)
Provincial Nominee Programs
Category-Based Draws
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Top Companies Hiring
Organizations with the most NOC 31103 openings right now.
Vetstrategy
32 active roles · Rosslyn, ON · Mill Bay, BC
Veterinary Emergency Group (VEG)
4 active roles · Toronto, ON · Etobicoke, ON
VetStrategy
3 active roles · Notre-Dame-des-Prairies, QC
Charles River Laboratories
3 active roles · Laval, QC · Senneville, QC
VCA
2 active roles · Calgary, AB
Juno Veterinary
2 active roles · Toronto, ON
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Search Veterinariansarrow_forwardCore Competencies
Critical Thinking, Decision Making and Problem Solving
to analyze complex medical cases, evaluate symptoms, address challenges that may arise during animal care and make informed decisions about diagnoses or treatment plans
Instructing
to properly explain medical conditions and treatment options for animals to guide patients through the home healing process
Finger Dexterity
to precisely perform surgery and dental services for animals to ensure all abnormal cells or obstructions have been removed with minimal damage to healthy cells
Problem Identification and Inductive Reasoning
to analyze symptoms, diagnostic test results, or other information to arrive at accurate diagnoses and effective treatment plans
Attention to Detail
to closely review diagnostic test results and x-rays to identify any deviations from normal
Knowledge in Veterinarian and Animal Care
to understand animal growth or development, breed-specific illnesses, common illnesses and the potential impact of medical interventions on animal health to apply evidence-based practices in their work
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