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CourseFinder helps you discover and enroll in top courses from Australia’s leading providers, making it easy to kick-start or continue your career journey.
Follow Us
© 2026 CourseFinder Australia Pty Ltd, All Rights Reserved
Veterinary
Veterinary work covers every animal Australians rely on. That means family pets, farm animals and wildlife. Around 14,500 vets work nationally, and Jobs and Skills Australia (2025) records roughly 100 new roles added each year on top of steady replacement demand. A much larger support team, including nurses and technicians, keeps clinics and hospitals running day to day.
Most people start on the support side rather than heading straight into a vet degree. A course such as Certificate II in Animal Care teaches handling and welfare basics in under a year. Some study options are available through government-funded places. From there, many people move into vet nursing. Others decide later to pursue a full vet degree.
Every vet in Australia answers to a state board. The Australasian Veterinary Boards Council sets the shared standards behind that system. This means a licence earned in one state carries full weight everywhere else. Clients can trust that any registered vet meets the same national benchmark.
This workforce skews young and mostly female, with a median age of just 37. That points to strong graduate intake year after year. Vet work suits people who want hands-on, practical days built around real responsibility. Steady growth in cities and regional towns alike keeps this path open for a long time to come.
You need a bachelor-level veterinary science degree or equivalent. It takes five to six years and includes supervised clinical placements. Graduates then register with a state board, under standards set by the Australasian Veterinary Boards Council.
Some theory units run online. Every course still needs practical placement in a registered clinic. That hands-on training is what meets national standards.
Animal care certificates prepare you for entry-level roles or further study. Veterinary nursing is more advanced and focused on clinical care.
Yes. Vets must register with their state’s board before they can practise. Vet nurses are not regulated nationally yet, though most employers still want an accredited qualification.
Animal care certificates take six to twelve months. Vet nursing courses usually run 18 months to two years. A full vet degree takes up to six years.
A career in veterinary can lead to real jobs you'll enjoy. Here are some roles you could pursue.
