u/InternationalRain689

Hi everyone,

I'm currently a veterinary medicine student in Europe, and I still have three years left before graduating.

One of the things that has been weighing on my mind is the salary outlook in my country. As a newly graduated veterinarian, I would probably earn around €1,200–1,300 gross per month. With experience, that could eventually increase to around €2,000+, unless I pursue an academic career and become a university professor, where the salary prospects are different.

To be honest, I find this very discouraging. After so many years of studying, stress, and responsibility, it's difficult to accept earning roughly the same as many retail jobs.

Because of that, my dream is to build my career in the United States, where veterinarians seem to be more valued and the salary reflects the level of education and responsibility the profession requires.

I know this won't be easy. My veterinary school is not AVMA-accredited, so I would have to complete the ECFVG certification process. Fortunately, that part doesn't intimidate me.

My current plan is to apply for an internship and eventually a residency in the US after graduation while completing the ECFVG process at the same time.

However, I'm unsure how realistic this actually is. After finishing a residency, would I realistically have a chance of finding an employer willing to sponsor a work visa? I speak Portuguese, Spanish, and some German, but I don't know whether that would make me a more attractive candidate or whether employers would simply prefer hiring an American veterinarian instead of dealing with visa sponsorship.

Another concern is the internship/residency Match process. The idea of not being able to choose where I train is a bit intimidating. I'd really appreciate any advice from people who have successfully matched. Are there things I can do during veterinary school to improve my chances?

I've also considered another route: completing an internship and residency in the UK, possibly through the Royal Veterinary College. However, I'm wondering whether going directly to the US afterward would actually be more difficult since I wouldn't have trained within the American system.

Finally, I've heard that there may be more opportunities for international veterinarians in large animal or equine medicine because of workforce shortages, compared with small animal practice. Is there any truth to this, or is it mostly anecdotal?
I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through the ECFVG process, matched into a US internship or residency, or obtained visa sponsorship as an international veterinarian.

Any advice or realistic expectations would mean a lot.

Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I'm currently a veterinary medicine student in Europe, and I still have three years left before graduating.

One of the things that has been weighing on my mind is the salary outlook in my country. As a newly graduated veterinarian, I would probably earn around €1,200–1,300 gross per month. With experience, that could eventually increase to around €2,000+, unless I pursue an academic career and become a university professor, where the salary prospects are different.

To be honest, I find this very discouraging. After so many years of studying, stress, and responsibility, it's difficult to accept earning roughly the same as many retail jobs.

Because of that, my dream is to build my career in the United States, where veterinarians seem to be more valued and the salary reflects the level of education and responsibility the profession requires.

I know this won't be easy. My veterinary school is not AVMA-accredited, so I would have to complete the ECFVG certification process. Fortunately, that part doesn't intimidate me.

My current plan is to apply for an internship and eventually a residency in the US after graduation while completing the ECFVG process at the same time.

However, I'm unsure how realistic this actually is. After finishing a residency, would I realistically have a chance of finding an employer willing to sponsor a work visa? I speak Portuguese, Spanish, and some German, but I don't know whether that would make me a more attractive candidate or whether employers would simply prefer hiring an American veterinarian instead of dealing with visa sponsorship.

Another concern is the internship/residency Match process. The idea of not being able to choose where I train is a bit intimidating. I'd really appreciate any advice from people who have successfully matched. Are there things I can do during veterinary school to improve my chances?

I've also considered another route: completing an internship and residency in the UK, possibly through the Royal Veterinary College. However, I'm wondering whether going directly to the US afterward would actually be more difficult since I wouldn't have trained within the American system.

Finally, I've heard that there may be more opportunities for international veterinarians in large animal or equine medicine because of workforce shortages, compared with small animal practice. Is there any truth to this, or is it mostly anecdotal?
I'd really appreciate hearing from anyone who has gone through the ECFVG process, matched into a US internship or residency, or obtained visa sponsorship as an international veterinarian.

Any advice or realistic expectations would mean a lot.

Thank you!