Veterinary Surgery Jobs

Veterinary surgery jobs span a wide range, from general practice DVMs performing routine procedures like spays, neuters, and mass removals, to board-certified veterinary surgeons (ACVS Diplomates) handling complex orthopedic, soft tissue, and neurosurgical cases at referral hospitals that general practice isn't equipped to manage.

General practice surgical roles require a standard DVM license and typically don't call for additional certification, though comfort and caseload volume in surgery vary considerably by individual DVM and practice. Board-certified surgical positions require completing a residency approved by the American College of Veterinary Surgeons (ACVS) and passing board certification exams, a path that generally takes several years beyond veterinary school and remains genuinely competitive to enter.

Veterinary surgery jobs exist in general practice, specialty and referral hospitals, academic teaching institutions, and some large emergency hospitals with dedicated surgical services. Case complexity and the equipment available differ significantly between a general practice performing routine, scheduled procedures and a referral hospital surgical department handling complex, often urgent cases.

If you're a DVM considering whether to pursue board certification in surgery versus building surgical skill and confidence within general practice, it's worth understanding the residency pathway, the real time commitment involved, and how the career trajectory and compensation differ between the two routes over the course of a career.

Before applying, it's worth clarifying what equipment and support staff are available for surgical cases at a given practice, since this varies enormously between a general practice with basic surgical capability and a referral hospital built specifically around complex procedures. This detail shapes what kind of surgical work you'll actually be doing day to day.