Length of veterinary working life

Abstract

The average veterinary career, estimated by veterinarians who graduated 5 years earlier, is 24 years in full-time equivalents for men, and 16 years for women. Almost all (94%, representing 73% in full-time equivalents) still work as veterinarians after 5 years, most of them (76%, representing 59% in full-time equivalents) in private practice. The likelihood of remaining in private practice is related to previous responsibility for animals.