Veterinarian License in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania requires a DVM or VMD degree from an AVMA-accredited school, passage of the NAVLE, and a state-specific examination. The Pennsylvania State Board of Veterinary Medicine oversees the profession. The University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine (Penn Vet) in Philadelphia is the state's AVMA-accredited program and one of only two schools in the nation that confers the VMD (Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris) degree rather than the DVM. Penn Vet is consistently ranked among the top veterinary schools globally and operates the Ryan Veterinary Hospital and the New Bolton Center, a world-class large-animal hospital in Chester County known for its equine medicine program. Pennsylvania's agricultural economy includes significant dairy farming (the state ranks among the top five), mushroom production (leading the nation), poultry, and a vibrant Amish farming community in Lancaster County. The Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metro areas support large companion-animal and specialty markets. Pennsylvania's equine industry, including thoroughbred racing at Parx and Presque Isle Downs, is well established.