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UK · Health · Animals

Vet (veterinary surgeon)

A veterinary degree approved by the RCVS takes 5 to 6 years. UK law says you must join the RCVS Register before you can practise.

See the route Pay by region
Typical UK pay (median)£51,058Veterinarians, full time, per year
ONS
Annual Survey of Hours and Earnings (ASHE) 2025 provisional, tables 14 and 15Office for National Statistics (ONS)
Checked
9 Oct 2026

Medians for full-time employee jobs. ONS hides estimates it rates unreliable (CV over 20%).

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Licensed or registered byRCVSRoyal College of Veterinary Surgeons. Register required by UK law
RCVS
Join the Register of Veterinary SurgeonsRoyal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
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How to get there

A typical route.

Veterinary degree RCVS

Regulated by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons.

  1. School3 A levels

    Including biology and chemistry.

    NCS
    Vet — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
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  2. ApplyInterview and screening tests

    At most universities; entry is highly competitive.

    NCS
    Vet — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
    View source

  3. DegreeVeterinary degree: 5 to 6 years

    Approved by the RCVS.

    NCS
    Vet — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
    View source

  4. RegisterJoin the RCVS Register (MRCVS)

    Required by UK law before you can practise.

    RCVS
    Join the Register of Veterinary SurgeonsRoyal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
    View source

  5. GoalVeterinary surgeon

    New graduates get 12 to 18 months of structured support (VetGDP).

    RCVS
    Join the Register of Veterinary SurgeonsRoyal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
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Already have a degree?
With a related degree (for example biomedical sciences) you may take a 4-year graduate entry course.
NCS
Vet — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
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At school

GCSEs (Years 10–11) and A levels (Years 12–13), or equivalents.

GCSEs
5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4, including English, maths and science.
NCS
Vet — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
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A levels
3 A levels including biology and chemistry, or equivalent.
NCS
Vet — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
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Work with animals
Get experience first: vet practices, animal charities, farms or riding stables.
NCS
Vet — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
Checked
23 Oct 2026
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UCAS points
An A* = 56 points. Vet schools usually set grades, so check each one.
UCAS
The new UCAS Tariff: ten things applicants need to knowUCAS
Checked
9 Oct 2026

An A* at A level is worth 56 Tariff points. Only about a third of courses use Tariff points in their entry requirements; most ask for grades.

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Pay by region

Pay is in pounds (£) per year, before tax, for full-time employees. ASHE counts employees only, so self-employed people (most barristers, many contractors) are not in these figures.

Veterinarians SOC 2240

  • UK median £51,058

Starting vs experienced (National Careers Service)

  • Vet: starter £32,000 · experienced £65,000
    NCS
    Vet — job profileNational Careers Service (GOV.UK)
    Checked
    23 Oct 2026
    View source
Pay: ONS ASHE 2025 (provisional), tables 14 and 15, full-time employees. Routes and rules: the official sites linked on each row, checked 23 Oct 2026. Education Margdarshan does not rank universities or recommend paid courses.