Licensed veterinarians and veterinary students wishing to specialize in aquatic animal health care can find certificate programs and workshops in the aquatic animal field or apply for a marine internship or residency program.
What Is a Marine Veterinarian?
Marine veterinarian and aquatic veterinarian are health experts that serve aquatic mammals and other marine life such as fish, cephalopods, sea turtles, and other types of aquatic wildlife. A marine veterinarian job description and an aquatic veterinarian job description include the following:
- Treating the medical and nutritional needs of animals (vertebrates and invertebrates) that live in water (salt and fresh)
- Treating marine and aquatic animals that are domestic or wild
- Diagnosing and providing remedies for diseases
- Treating and dressing wounds
- Performing surgeries
- Responding to emergency situations involving aquatic or marine animals.
| Salary | Outlook |
|---|---|
| Average salary of a marine or aquatic veterinarian is $95,460 | Expected growth is approximately 16% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Steps to Becoming a Marine Veterinarian
There are several steps that need to be taken when determining how to become an aquatic vet or marine vet. Let us take a look at some of the steps that you need to complete to successfully obtain a career as a marine veterinarian or aquatic veterinarian.
Step One
In order to become an aquatic or marine veterinarian, you must have some sort of experience and college-level courses in the life sciences for admittance into a marine veterinary college or aquatic school. Although a bachelor's degree may not be required, it can prove helpful in getting admitted into a marine veterinary or aquatic college to have a life science degree in an area such as:
- Zoology
- Marine biology
- Animal science
It is vital that your transcripts reflect the educational prerequisites to be successful in a marine veterinary college or school. These prerequisites include classes in advanced mathematics and physics, biology, and chemistry. You can find a list of prerequisites and requirements on how to apply for a marine or aquatic veterinary school at the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges and Veterinary Medical College Application Service.
Step Two
Apply to a veterinary college or school that has aquatic veterinarian degree programs or marine veterinarian degree programs and earn your Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine. You can find options by doing an internet search for the 'best marine veterinary schools'.
Step Three
Complete an aquatic veterinary degree or marine veterinary degree program internship or residency that allows you to practice what you have learned in a marine or aquatic veterinary hospital or clinic. Other places that hire people with a marine veterinarian and aquatic veterinarian degrees, such as zoos and aquariums, may also be options for internships.
Step Four
Certification and licensing are required for the prospective marine or aquatic degree seeker. Veterinarians, regardless of their specialization, must be licensed by the state they intend to practice in and are required to take and pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE). It is also advisable, to increase your chances of employment, to earn certificates that reflect your interest in marine and aquatic veterinary employment. These certificates can be earned from the American College of Zoological Medicine Board. Additional certificates and/or classes may also be needed depending on your specialization.
Step Five
Find employment with a marine or aquatic veterinarian degree. This may not be straightforward and may require additional steps, including on-the-job training.
Step Six
Continued education is essential in maintaining your credentials and staying up to date on the latest research and discoveries in your field.
Where Can I Find Marine Veterinarian Schools?
There are many marine veterinarian and aquatic veterinarian schools and programs to choose from; to find the best marine program to suit your needs, a good resource is the Veterinary Medical School Admission Requirements (VMSAR) which has a list of schools and admissions information. A sample of some of the best marine veterinary school programs and best aquatic veterinary schools programs include the following:
| College/University | Location | Institution Type | Tuition and Fees (In-state, 2020-2021)* | Program | Prequisites |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Florida | Gainesville, FL | 4-year, Public | $28,790 (per year) | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and clinical rotations at an animal hospital | College-level classes and/or experience |
| University of California -Davis | Davis, CA | 4-year, Public | $32,161 (per year) | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Progam (specializations in aquatic fish and mammals) and internships and residencies are available | *Bachelor's degree required for admittance |
| The Ohio State University | Columbus, OH | 4-year, Public | $33,587 (per year) | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Veterinary Internship and Residency Matching Program | College-level courses and/or experience |
| North Carolina State | Raleigh, NC | 4-year, Public | $19,616 (per year) | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with specialized programs at the Center for Marine Sciences and Technology and Veterinary Internship opportunities | College level classes and/or experience |
| Cornell University | Ithaca, NY | 4-year, Private | $$38,250 (per year) | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Aquatic Animal Health Program, internships, and continuing education credit courses available | College-level classes and/or experience |
| Oregon State University | Corvallis, OR | 4-year, Public | $46,734 (per year) | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine with the option to specialize in marine sciences | College-level classes and/or experience |
| University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign | Urbana, IL | 4-year, Public | $28,694 (per year) | Doctor of Veterinary Medicine and Zoological and Aquatic Animal Residency | College-level courses and/or experience |
Sources: *School websites
School Selection Criteria
Consider the following when looking for marine veterinarian schools:
- Workshops and externships are open to students and licensed veterinarians, while internships and residencies are typically post-DVM programs.
- Aspiring marine veterinarians hoping to seek employment at zoos or aquariums should look for programs that offer research and publishing opportunities.
- Internships, externships, and workshops are generally shorter in duration than residencies, which can last up to three years, so students should consider the amount of time they can commit to a program.
- Internship and residency programs have limited enrollment, are highly selective, and are usually given preference to applicants with the most experience: prospective students should gain as much clinical experience as possible, such as through volunteer opportunities, research assistantships, etc., before applying.
Certificate Programs and Workshops
Certificate programs and workshops are available for veterinary students along with working professionals. Programs vary in length and cover a wide range of topics.
Internships and Residencies
Internships are commonly available to those with a DVM degree, but some are open to 4th-year veterinary students. Internships tend to be shorter than residencies and can last between 4-6 weeks. Veterinary residency programs can last up to three years and are intended for individuals who have completed veterinary school. Opportunities are available through the U.S. military, veterinary schools, nonprofits, and veterinary hospitals. Areas of focus vary depending upon the organization.
Experienced veterinarians and those looking to enroll in veterinary school can find training opportunities in marine veterinary medicine.
