Veterinarian License in Mississippi

Mississippi requires a DVM degree from an AVMA-accredited school, passage of the NAVLE, and a state jurisprudence examination. The Mississippi Board of Veterinary Medicine oversees the profession. Mississippi State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Starkville is the state's AVMA-accredited program, well regarded for its focus on food-animal medicine, poultry health, catfish aquaculture research, and rural veterinary practice training. Mississippi is the nation's top catfish-producing state, with aquaculture concentrated in the Delta region around Indianola and Belzoni, creating unique opportunities in aquatic animal health. The state's poultry industry ranks among the top five nationally, and beef cattle operations span the state from north to south. Mississippi's predominantly rural landscape and lower population density result in ongoing veterinary workforce shortages, particularly for food-animal practitioners in the Delta and southern pine belt regions. The state's warm, humid climate presents distinctive challenges with vector-borne diseases, heartworm, and parasitic infections in both companion and production animals throughout the year.