How to Become a Veterinarian in New Mexico

There are certain steps involved in becoming a veterinarian in New Mexico that are common to candidates from all across the country. However, several steps in the process are unique only to candidates in this state.

To help ensure that interested individuals can handle all of these requirements, we have provided the guide below, carefully outlining all the key requirements, including the basic prerequisites, training requirements, relevant examinations, and licensure requirements.

To ensure that candidates only select top-quality, accredited training programs, we have also listed some of the most relevant veterinary medicine programs in and around the state for readers to consider.

Steps to Become a Veterinarian in New Mexico

The following is the general approach to starting a career as a veterinarian in New Mexico.

Maximizing the College Experience

Before making their final stop at a veterinary program, all aspiring veterinarians are expected to complete a regular college program. And while this is important to earn a degree, time spent in college is also an opportunity to build relevant skills in leadership, problem-solving, volunteering, and critical thinking.

The specific programs they choose to enroll in will depend on personal preference. For the best chances, however, students are advised to enroll in programs that are related to veterinary medicine.

For instance, they may consider zoology, biochemistry, microbiology command, and other animal science majors.

Completing Vet School

There are around thirty accredited veterinary schools in the country, and aspiring vets in New Mexico must attend one of them to start their careers. Here, they will learn important topics such as veterinary physiology, animal behavior, animal anatomy, and pharmacology.

They may then start to carry out real-world veterinary duties to get familiar with what will be expected of them on the job. Students typically do this in their final year through clinical rotations.

They may also leverage this opportunity to focus on their desired specialty area.

Passing the National Licensing Examination

The last main requirement that an aspiring veterinarian must meet during training is to pass a licensing examination known as the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE).

The NAVLE is taken on a computer and includes 360 multiple-choice questions. Students are advised to take this before they graduate so they can have the opportunity to take it again, if necessary, without wasting too much time.

Consider Careers with Similar Paths:

• Learn to become a veterinary assistant in New Mexico

Licensure and Certification Requirements

After completing the above steps, aspiring veterinarians in New Mexico must register with the state before securing employment.

In this case, the relevant agency is the New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine.

Anyone seeking this license must pay a $500 fee if they apply for licensure by endorsement with a non-board set exam date. They may pay $300 for a board-set exam date.

The veterinary license in New Mexico has a 1-year validity period. Once this period has elapsed, candidates must renew their licenses through 15 hours of continuing education.

Other requirements include proof of citizenship or alien status, professional references, a transcript, and a jurisprudence exam.

Top Veterinary Schools in New Mexico

Aspiring veterinarians in New Mexico may consider any of the training programs below for their top-class training.

Explore nearby states for education and training:

• Veterinarian Schools in Arizona

Salary & Career Outlook

Veterinarians in New Mexico may earn an average annual salary of $124,708 if they can make it among the average earners in the state. If they make it to be among the top 10%, they take home an annual average salary of $217,539, while their annual returns may hover around $71,491 if they are among the lowest-paid in the state.

Examining the annual average salary of veterinarians in New Mexico by two important factors, namely experience, and location, yields the following figures:

• Veterinarians in the state with more than 10 years of experience on the job take home around $177,422 annually on average.
• Veterinarians in Algodones are the highest-paid in the state by location, with an annual average salary of $245,461.
• Veterinarians in Albuquerque are the second highest-paid in the state by location, with an annual average salary of $132,135.
• Veterinarians in Santa Fe round up the top three highest-paying locations for vets in New Mexico, with an annual average salary of $131,060.