Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website. Have you ever wondered how much it costs to go to vet school in Canada? How much a veterinarian makes? Whether it’s easy to get into vet school? We have the answers to your questions and more! Read on to find out facts and statistics about the veterinary industry and veterinary schools in Canada, including:
General Canadian Veterinary Industry Statistics Financial Statistics General Veterinary School Statistics
The 10 Most Interesting Canada Veterinary Statistics
There are over 15,000 veterinarians in Canada as of 2021. There are 5,894 veterinary practices in Canada. The veterinary industry employs 42,981 people. The full-time median annual income for a veterinarian in Canada is $85,074. The average cost of a graduate degree in veterinary medicine is $10,099. Canada has only five veterinary schools. Approximately 350 new veterinarians graduate every year in Canada. The acceptance rate for vet schools is between 10 and 15%. 61% of veterinary graduates are female, while only 38% are male. University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College is rated as the number one vet school in Canada.
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General Canadian Veterinary Industry Statistics
There are over 15,000 veterinarians in Canada as of 2021. (CVMA) This number is representative of the total number of veterinarians registered with provincial regulatory bodies and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association. Image Credit: SvetikovaV, Shutterstock
There are 5,894 veterinary practices in Canada. (IBIS World) Veterinary businesses include animal hospitals, disease testing, livestock inspecting, and testing, small animal veterinary services, and veterinary testing laboratories.
The veterinary industry employs 42,981 people. (IBIS World) The industry as a whole is worth $5 billion. This figure does not include individuals employed by companies that manufacture medical supplies or animal pharmaceuticals.
Financial Statistics 4. The full-time median annual income for a veterinarian in Canada is $85,074. (Government of Canada) Salaries for veterinarians range from $30,229 to $139,667 across the country. Alberta reports the highest salary range with a median salary of $96,817, while Québec reports the lowest with a median of $83,200. Whether this average is representative of veterinarians across the country is unclear as there is no data available for New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, or Yukon Territory. Image Credit: Tatyana Vyc, Shutterstock
- The average cost of a graduate degree in veterinary medicine is $10,099. (University Study) The estimated cost of an undergraduate degree in pre-veterinary studies is $63,323. This cost is tuition only and does not include accommodations or other necessities. It is based on tuition fees for the 2019-2020 school year.
General Veterinary School Statistics 6. Canada has only five veterinary schools. (The Canadian Encyclopedia) There are five Canadian Colleges of Veterinary Medicine. They are:
Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) is located at the University of Guelph. The OVC was associated with the University of Toronto prior to 1965 and served students from all provinces.
Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) is located at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown. The AVC was established in 1983 and primarily serves students from the four Atlantic Provinces. In addition to traditional veterinary medicine programs, the AVC also offers studies in diseases of aquatic species related to aquaculture.
The faculty of Veterinary Medicine located at the Université de Montréal was established in 1947. Despite its association with the Université de Montréal, it resides in Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec. This is the only French-language veterinary college in North America.
Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) is located at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. This college was established in 1963, making it the second College of Veterinary Medicine to open in Canada. The first veterinarian graduated from the UofS in 1969.
The faculty of Veterinary Medicine is located at the University of Calgary. This is the country’s newest Veterinary College, which opened in 2008. It was established after a significant outbreak of Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis, also known as BSE or Mad Cow Disease, occurred in Alberta in 2003. The faculty’s priorities focus on horse and cattle health, animal welfare, and disease ecology.
Image Credit: H_Ko, Shutterstock
Approximately 350 new veterinarians graduate every year in Canada. (CVMA) Of these graduates, 75% go into private practice in either small, large, or mixed animal practices or specialized practices for a specific species. 10% of graduates work for some level of the Canadian government, 6% hold other occupations within the veterinary industry, and 5% go into teaching and research.
61% of veterinary graduates are female, while only 38% are male. (CVMA) These demographics are based on CVMA memberships for 2020.
The acceptance rate for vet schools is between 10 and 15%. (Veterinarian EDU) There are just under 300 spots available each year for admission into Veterinary Colleges. This makes it the hardest program to get into in the country, with between 700 and 1,000 rejected applications for each successful applicant. The extreme level of competition makes for unforgiving entrance requirements. Image credit: Creativa Images, Shutterstock
University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College is rated as the number one vet school in Canada. (Veterinary Practice News) They are also the third-best-rated veterinary school in North America and the sixth-best in the world, topped only by UC Davis, Cornell University, University of London, University of Cambridge, and the University of Liverpool. Related Read: 11 Interesting UK Veterinarian Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions About Veterinary School in Canada Is there a high demand for veterinarians in Canada? The demand for veterinarians in Canada is extremely high. With a limited number of spots available in Veterinary Colleges each year, it is one of the most in-demand careers for individuals considering emigrating to the country. Qualified veterinarians are eligible for Permanent Residency through the Federal Skilled Worker Immigration Program on a Federal and Provincial Nomination basis. (CVMA)
What are the admission requirements for vet schools in Canada? Admission requirements differ slightly between Veterinary Colleges, particularly with regards to residency. Some colleges are open to applicants to all provinces, such as the University of Guelph, while others are only available to students in their home province. As an example, here are the entry requirements for the DVM (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine) Program at the University of Calgary.
Must be a resident of Alberta
A minimum MCAT score of 495 (Medical College Admissions Test)
Passing grades in ten required pre-requisite courses
Four recent full-time semesters with a minimum GPA of 3.0
(University of Calgary) Image Credit: Elnur, Shutterstock
What are the licensing requirements for veterinarians in Canada? Graduates of non-accredited veterinary schools are required to complete a National Examination Board examination sequence to receive a Certificate of Qualification. Graduates of accredited veterinary schools must pass the NAVLE within two attempts to receive licensure. If a candidate requires more than two attempts to pass the exam, a hands-on practical component is also required. (CVMA) Related Read: 5 Types Of Veterinarians And What They Do
Conclusion Veterinary school in Canada is expensive. There are a very limited number of spots available to students and significant competition for those spots, making veterinary medicine one of the hardest programs to get into. You might also be interested in: How Long Does It Take to Become a Veterinarian? Sources
CVMA IBIS World Government of Canada University Study The Canadian Encyclopedia CVMA Veterinarian EDU Veterinary Practice News CVMA University of Calgary
Featured Image Credit: Zivica Kerkez, Shutterstock
Note: This article’s statistics come from third-party sources and do not represent the opinions of this website.
Have you ever wondered how much it costs to go to vet school in Canada? How much a veterinarian makes? Whether it’s easy to get into vet school? We have the answers to your questions and more! Read on to find out facts and statistics about the veterinary industry and veterinary schools in Canada, including:
- General Canadian Veterinary Industry Statistics
- Financial Statistics
- General Veterinary School Statistics
The 10 Most Interesting Canada Veterinary Statistics
- There are over 15,000 veterinarians in Canada as of 2021.
- There are 5,894 veterinary practices in Canada.
- The veterinary industry employs 42,981 people.
- The full-time median annual income for a veterinarian in Canada is $85,074.
- The average cost of a graduate degree in veterinary medicine is $10,099.
- Canada has only five veterinary schools.
- Approximately 350 new veterinarians graduate every year in Canada.
- The acceptance rate for vet schools is between 10 and 15%.
- 61% of veterinary graduates are female, while only 38% are male.
- University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College is rated as the number one vet school in Canada.
General Canadian Veterinary Industry Statistics
1. There are over 15,000 veterinarians in Canada as of 2021.
(CVMA)
This number is representative of the total number of veterinarians registered with provincial regulatory bodies and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.
2. There are 5,894 veterinary practices in Canada.
(IBIS World)
Veterinary businesses include animal hospitals, disease testing, livestock inspecting, and testing, small animal veterinary services, and veterinary testing laboratories.
3. The veterinary industry employs 42,981 people.
The industry as a whole is worth $5 billion. This figure does not include individuals employed by companies that manufacture medical supplies or animal pharmaceuticals.
Financial Statistics
4. The full-time median annual income for a veterinarian in Canada is $85,074.
(Government of Canada)
Salaries for veterinarians range from $30,229 to $139,667 across the country. Alberta reports the highest salary range with a median salary of $96,817, while Québec reports the lowest with a median of $83,200.
Whether this average is representative of veterinarians across the country is unclear as there is no data available for New Brunswick, Newfoundland, and Labrador, the Northwest Territories, Nunavut, Prince Edward Island, or Yukon Territory.
5. The average cost of a graduate degree in veterinary medicine is $10,099.
(University Study)
The estimated cost of an undergraduate degree in pre-veterinary studies is $63,323. This cost is tuition only and does not include accommodations or other necessities. It is based on tuition fees for the 2019-2020 school year.
General Veterinary School Statistics
6. Canada has only five veterinary schools.
(The Canadian Encyclopedia)
There are five Canadian Colleges of Veterinary Medicine. They are:
Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) is located at the University of Guelph. The OVC was associated with the University of Toronto prior to 1965 and served students from all provinces.
Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) is located at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown. The AVC was established in 1983 and primarily serves students from the four Atlantic Provinces. In addition to traditional veterinary medicine programs, the AVC also offers studies in diseases of aquatic species related to aquaculture.
The faculty of Veterinary Medicine located at the Université de Montréal was established in 1947. Despite its association with the Université de Montréal, it resides in Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec. This is the only French-language veterinary college in North America.
Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) is located at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. This college was established in 1963, making it the second College of Veterinary Medicine to open in Canada. The first veterinarian graduated from the UofS in 1969.
The faculty of Veterinary Medicine is located at the University of Calgary. This is the country’s newest Veterinary College, which opened in 2008. It was established after a significant outbreak of Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis, also known as BSE or Mad Cow Disease, occurred in Alberta in 2003. The faculty’s priorities focus on horse and cattle health, animal welfare, and disease ecology.
- Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) is located at the University of Guelph. The OVC was associated with the University of Toronto prior to 1965 and served students from all provinces.
- Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) is located at the University of Prince Edward Island in Charlottetown. The AVC was established in 1983 and primarily serves students from the four Atlantic Provinces. In addition to traditional veterinary medicine programs, the AVC also offers studies in diseases of aquatic species related to aquaculture.
- The faculty of Veterinary Medicine located at the Université de Montréal was established in 1947. Despite its association with the Université de Montréal, it resides in Saint-Hyacinthe, Québec. This is the only French-language veterinary college in North America.
- Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) is located at the University of Saskatchewan in Saskatoon. This college was established in 1963, making it the second College of Veterinary Medicine to open in Canada. The first veterinarian graduated from the UofS in 1969.
- The faculty of Veterinary Medicine is located at the University of Calgary. This is the country’s newest Veterinary College, which opened in 2008. It was established after a significant outbreak of Bovine Spongiform Encephalitis, also known as BSE or Mad Cow Disease, occurred in Alberta in 2003. The faculty’s priorities focus on horse and cattle health, animal welfare, and disease ecology.
7. Approximately 350 new veterinarians graduate every year in Canada.
Of these graduates, 75% go into private practice in either small, large, or mixed animal practices or specialized practices for a specific species. 10% of graduates work for some level of the Canadian government, 6% hold other occupations within the veterinary industry, and 5% go into teaching and research.
8. 61% of veterinary graduates are female, while only 38% are male.
These demographics are based on CVMA memberships for 2020.
9. The acceptance rate for vet schools is between 10 and 15%.
(Veterinarian EDU)
There are just under 300 spots available each year for admission into Veterinary Colleges. This makes it the hardest program to get into in the country, with between 700 and 1,000 rejected applications for each successful applicant. The extreme level of competition makes for unforgiving entrance requirements.
10. University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College is rated as the number one vet school in Canada.
(Veterinary Practice News)
They are also the third-best-rated veterinary school in North America and the sixth-best in the world, topped only by UC Davis, Cornell University, University of London, University of Cambridge, and the University of Liverpool.
Related Read: 11 Interesting UK Veterinarian Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions About Veterinary School in Canada
Is there a high demand for veterinarians in Canada?
The demand for veterinarians in Canada is extremely high. With a limited number of spots available in Veterinary Colleges each year, it is one of the most in-demand careers for individuals considering emigrating to the country. Qualified veterinarians are eligible for Permanent Residency through the Federal Skilled Worker Immigration Program on a Federal and Provincial Nomination basis.
What are the admission requirements for vet schools in Canada?
Admission requirements differ slightly between Veterinary Colleges, particularly with regards to residency. Some colleges are open to applicants to all provinces, such as the University of Guelph, while others are only available to students in their home province. As an example, here are the entry requirements for the DVM (Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine) Program at the University of Calgary.
Must be a resident of Alberta
A minimum MCAT score of 495 (Medical College Admissions Test)
Passing grades in ten required pre-requisite courses
Four recent full-time semesters with a minimum GPA of 3.0
- Must be a resident of Alberta
- A minimum MCAT score of 495 (Medical College Admissions Test)
- Passing grades in ten required pre-requisite courses
- Four recent full-time semesters with a minimum GPA of 3.0
(University of Calgary)
What are the licensing requirements for veterinarians in Canada?
Graduates of non-accredited veterinary schools are required to complete a National Examination Board examination sequence to receive a Certificate of Qualification.
Graduates of accredited veterinary schools must pass the NAVLE within two attempts to receive licensure. If a candidate requires more than two attempts to pass the exam, a hands-on practical component is also required.
Related Read: 5 Types Of Veterinarians And What They Do
Conclusion
Veterinary school in Canada is expensive. There are a very limited number of spots available to students and significant competition for those spots, making veterinary medicine one of the hardest programs to get into.
You might also be interested in: How Long Does It Take to Become a Veterinarian?
Sources
CVMA IBIS World Government of Canada University Study The Canadian Encyclopedia CVMA Veterinarian EDU Veterinary Practice News CVMA University of Calgary
- CVMA
- IBIS World
- Government of Canada
- University Study
- The Canadian Encyclopedia
- CVMA
- Veterinarian EDU
- Veterinary Practice News
- CVMA
- University of Calgary
Featured Image Credit: Zivica Kerkez, Shutterstock
