Veterinarians
Occupation · NOC 2021 31103 · Canada
- NOC 2021 code
- 31103
- TEER
- 1
- Positions on positive LMIAs, all lists
- 361
- Median wage, Canada
- C$60.00 per hour
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 491
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About this occupation
Veterinarians prevent, diagnose and treat diseases and disorders in animals and advise clients on the feeding, hygiene, housing and general care of animals. They can also perform surgical procedures. They work in private practice or may be employed by animal clinics, farms, laboratories, government or industry.
Example job titles
- farm veterinarian
- small animal veterinary specialist
- veterinarian
- veterinary inspector
- veterinary pathologist
- veterinary physiologist
- veterinary surgeon
- zoo veterinarian
Main duties
- This group performs some or all of the following duties:
- Diagnose diseases or abnormal conditions in individual animals, herds and flocks through physical examinations or laboratory tests
- Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds or performing surgery
- Vaccinate animals to prevent and treat diseases
- Perform routine, emergency and post-mortem examinations
- Advise clients on feeding, housing, behaviour, breeding, hygiene and general care of animals
- Provide a range of veterinary services including obstetrics, dentistry and euthanasia
- May supervise animal health technologists and animal care workers
- May be responsible for overall operation of animal hospital, clinic or mobile service to farms
- May conduct veterinary research related to areas such as animal nutrition, health care products development and disease prevention and control
Employment requirements
- Doctor of veterinary medicine
- Two years of pre-veterinary university studies or completion of a college program in health science and a four to five year university degree in veterinary medicine and successful completion of an examination leading to a national certification are required.
- A provincial licence to practice is required.
- Veterinary specialists
- Completion of a degree in veterinary medicine and three to four years of additional postgraduate studies or residency program in the specialty of their choice are required.
- Veterinary specialists must be accredited by the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) or the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners (ABVP). In Quebec, they must be accredited by the Ordre des médecins vétérinaires du Québec and only 18 specialties are recognized.
- A provincial license to practice is required.
- Research veterinarian
Temporary foreign worker positions (LMIA)
Positions on positive LMIAs in ESDC employer lists, by year of the list.
Approved positions by year
Data table
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 13 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 34 |
| 2022 | 62 |
| 2023 | 50 |
| 2024 | 73 |
| 2025 | 69 |
| 2026 | 11 |
- Ammar Veterinary Professional Corp15
- 534422 B.C. LTD12
- Queensway Veterinary Hospital11
- Groupe Vétéri Médic Inc.10
- Judge Veterinary Medicine Professional Corporation10
- 0980040 B.C. Ltd.9
- Maple City Veterinary Professional Corporation7
- Université de Montréal6
- Groupe Vétérinaire Daubigny Inc.5
- Ottawa Animal Emergency & Specialty Hospital5
- VetStrategy Manitoba Veterinary Corporation5
- VAS Veterinary Professional Corporation5
- Dr. Michelle Cutler Veterinary Professional Corporation5
- CENTREDMVÉT INC5
- 1680213 ALBERTA LTD.4
Work permits
Work permit holders by year the permit took effect, mapped from NOC 2016 where the code has a single NOC 2021 successor (IRCC).
| Year | TFWP permits | IMP permits |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 0 | 90 |
| 2025 | 0 | 90 |
| 2024 | 0 | 55 |
| 2023 | 10 | 90 |
| 2022 | 0 | 55 |
| 2021 | 0 | 15 |
| 2020 | 0 | 15 |
| 2019 | 0 | 50 |
| 2018 | 0 | 50 |
| 2017 | 0 | 20 |
| 2016 | 0 | 30 |
| 2015 | 0 | 35 |
All work permits by year
Data table
| 2015 | 35 |
| 2016 | 30 |
| 2017 | 20 |
| 2018 | 50 |
| 2019 | 50 |
| 2020 | 15 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 55 |
| 2023 | 100 |
| 2024 | 55 |
| 2025 | 90 |
| 2026 | 90 |
Permanent residence
Admissions of permanent residents by intended occupation and Express Entry invitations by occupation (IRCC).
New permanent residents by year
Data table
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 5 |
| 2019 | 15 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 30 |
| 2024 | 100 |
| 2025 | 110 |
| 2026 | 70 |
- Federal Skilled Worker525
- Canadian Experience Class390
- Provincial Nominee Program105
Wages
Median wage by province and territory (2025 release). Hourly unless marked per year.
| Area | Low | Median | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada | C$34.15 | C$60.00 | C$84.13 |
| Alberta | C$40.75 | C$62.50 | C$88.94 |
| British Columbia | C$35.58 | C$60.00 | C$86.54 |
| Manitoba | C$38.46 | C$50.48 | C$72.12 |
| New Brunswick | C$29.33 | C$51.82 | C$71.23 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador | C$40.13 | C$57.35 | C$76.72 |
| Nova Scotia | C$49.31 | C$52.20 | C$71.23 |
| Ontario | C$29.81 | C$60.00 | C$86.54 |
| Quebec | C$25.00 | C$64.10 | C$70.00 |
| Saskatchewan | C$38.65 | C$52.88 | C$65.00 |
- Job Bank postings, Jan–Sep 2026
- 491
- Vacancies advertised
- 601
- Median advertised minimum hourly wage
- C$61.00
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