Shigoto Zukan
日本語

How to become 獣医師education, training, experience, licenses and the steps to enter

Japan Healthcare Confidence ★★★★★

Average annual pay
¥6.81M
≈ $43,276
Top pay (est.)
¥12.17M
Top 10% ¥10.38M
Pay in 5 years
¥7.74Mest.
2031
Pay in 10 years
¥8.80Mest.
¥7.57M–¥10.22M
Outlook score
62/100
★★★☆☆ Average
AI replacement risk
30%
Low
Labor demand
High
Openings-to-applicants 1.95x

How to become 獣医師

The typical path in Japan is shown by the education, training and experience of current workers above and in the Japanese guidance below. A detailed English guide for this occupation is being prepared.

Guidance from job tag (Japanese)
獣医師になるためには、まず獣医学科のある大学に入学し、6年間の獣医学教育を履修した後、農林水産省が行う獣医師国家試験に合格しなければならない。
　合格後、農林水産省に免許の交付申請手続を行い、農林水産大臣による獣医師免許を取得し、獣医師名簿に登録されると、獣医師としての仕事ができる。
　獣医師として国家公務員、地方公務員になる場合は、公務員試験と獣医師国家試験の双方に合格することが必要である。農業共済団体や民間企業などの場合は、それぞれ独自に採用試験を行っている。
　臨床獣医師は免許を取得してもすぐに独り立ちできるわけではなく、臨床経験を積む必要がある。牛や馬、豚や家禽などの産業動物関係の場合は、農業共済団体の家畜診療所などに勤務し、先輩獣医師と一緒に診療活動に従事しながら経験を積んでいくのが一般的である。小動物関係の場合は、動物病院に研修医として勤務したり、獣医系大学の付属動物病院で研修するのが一般的である。

Skills, education and requirements for 獣医師

Key skills

Reading Comprehension
5.3
Active Listening
5.3
Speaking
4.8
Writing
4.6
Active Learning
4.2
Instructing
4.2
Critical Thinking
4.1
Persuasion
4.0

Skill levels from the MHLW job tag worker survey.

Key knowledge areas

Medicine and Dentistry
3.8
Biology
3.6
Customer and Personal Service
2.8
Administrative
2.1
English Language
2.1
Therapy and Counseling
2.0
Administration and Management
1.9
Public Safety and Security
1.8

What the work involves

Updating and Using Relevant KnowledgeGetting InformationMonitoring Processes, Materials, or SurroundingsIdentifying Objects, Actions, and EventsMaking Decisions and Solving ProblemsOrganizing, Planning, and Prioritizing WorkInterpreting the Meaning of Information for OthersAnalyzing Data or Information

Important abilities

Problem SensitivityOral ComprehensionOral ExpressionManual DexterityFinger DexterityArm-Hand Steadiness

Licenses and certifications (Japan)

Related qualifications listed on job tag (names in Japanese). Some are mandatory, others recommended.

Education of workers

Training before entry

Related work experience

Difficulty of entry: ★★★★★ Hard to enter (from education, training, experience, licenses)

Career path and how to earn more as 獣医師

Career-path guidance is being prepared. Pay by experience is shown in the Pay section.

Pay and employment figures are national statistics. Projected pay, outlook scores and AI replacement risk are estimates from the Shigoto Zukan model, not guarantees. To request a correction, use the contact form. How to read the data
Sources: Basic Survey on Wage Structure (2025), Population Census and Hello Work employment statistics as published on the MHLW job tag site (retrieved Nov 1, 2026); Occupational Information Database (JILPT). Pay ranges, projections and scores are Shigoto Zukan estimates.