To become an aquatic veterinarian, you become a veterinarian first. There is no aquatic vet degree: you earn a bachelor's degree, finish a 4-year DVM at any accredited vet school, get licensed, and then build your fish, marine mammal and sea turtle experience through electives, externships, internships and, for some, a residency and board certification.
Plan on about 8 years after high school to become a licensed vet, and 12 or more if you want to be a board-certified specialist. The steps below cover the programs schools actually list and the two credentials people mix up.
What an aquatic veterinarian does
An aquatic veterinarian is a DVM who looks after animals that live in water: fish, marine mammals, sea turtles and other reptiles, amphibians, aquatic birds and invertebrates.
The International Association for Aquatic Animal Medicine (IAAAM) lists where those patients live: aquariums and zoos, rehabilitation centers and government wildlife agencies (for free-ranging animals), and aquaculture for food and ornamental fish production. With fish in particular, the vet often treats the whole tank, pond or farm and its water, not just one patient. Our post on viral lymphocystis in fish is a good example of the kind of case an aquatic vet is called in to diagnose.
The path at a glance
Step | Typical time | What it gets you |
|---|---|---|
Animal and aquatic experience | Start in high school or college, keep going | Handling skills, references, a reason the field fits you |
Bachelor's degree + vet school prerequisites | About 4 years | Eligibility to apply to vet school |
DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) | 4 years | Your degree; aquatic electives and externships along the way |
NAVLE + state license | During and right after vet school | The legal right to practice |
Aquatic internship | 1-2 years | Focused, supervised aquatic experience |
Residency (optional) | 3 years | Eligibility for the ACZM specialty board exam |
Timing comes from the University of Florida, IAAAM and the American College of Zoological Medicine (ACZM).
Step 1: Get animal experience early (aquatic if you can)
Start volunteering or working with animals as soon as you can. IAAAM suggests aquariums, zoos, wildlife rehabilitation centers, exotic animal hospitals and research labs.
Don't panic if no aquarium will take you yet. The University of Florida's aquatic program says aquatic jobs and volunteer spots "are limited and competitive", and that experience with domestic species is still valuable. Vet schools want to see that you can handle animals and understand the profession, whatever the species.
Swimming, scuba and boat handling are worth picking up along the way. St. Matthew's University notes they may be necessary for some roles in the water, though plenty of aquatic vets work from a hospital, lab or farm instead.
Step 2: Earn a bachelor's degree and the prerequisites
Pick a science major and take every prerequisite course the vet schools on your list require. Biology, animal science and marine biology are all common choices. Marine biology is not required; the prerequisites matter more than the name of the major. Keep your GPA high, because admission is competitive. Still deciding whether vet med is right for you? Read our honest list of 10 things to consider before becoming a veterinarian.
Step 3: Get through vet school (any accredited school works)
Here is the myth to drop: no vet school offers an aquatic DVM. The University of Florida says it plainly, and IAAAM adds that you can attend any veterinary school in the world and still become an aquatic vet. Vet school is mostly dogs, cats, cows and horses, and that foundation is the point. You need solid general medicine before you work on exotic species.
What differs between schools is the extra aquatic exposure. Options as listed by the schools and by IAAAM:
- University of Florida: an Aquatic Animal Medicine certificate (15 credits of aquatic coursework and externships) for UF vet students only, plus online aquatic courses that students from any school can take.
- Cornell University: AQUAVET, listed by IAAAM as an introductory aquatic animal medicine program.
- University of Florida Sea Vet: another aquatic course on IAAAM's list.
- Exotic animal electives at your own school, whatever they are called there.
Aquatic externships usually happen in your fourth year. An externship (also called a preceptorship) is a 3-6 week placement where a vet student works alongside aquatic vets. IAAAM keeps a list of facilities that offer them, including Georgia Aquarium, Aquarium of the Pacific and New England Aquarium. Details change every year, so check each facility's site.
Step 4: Pass the NAVLE and get licensed
To practice in the US, you pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE), which every US and Canadian licensing jurisdiction requires. Most states also have their own exam or requirements, and each state board sets its own continuing education rules. You need a license in every state where you work.
Step 5: Build aquatic experience after graduation
Even with a DVM and a license, an aquarium job rarely comes first. IAAAM notes that new graduates seldom land an aquatic position right away, and that most aquatic vets have specialized clinical training before they get a permanent job. The common routes:
- General practice first. IAAAM suggests a year or two of hands-on practice, then applying for aquatic internships.
- Aquatic internship (1-2 years). Graduate vets train under staff veterinarians at aquariums and other aquatic institutions. Only select organizations offer one each year.
- Residency (3 years). Advanced training in aquatic and zoological medicine, built to lead to board certification. IAAAM lists programs such as the University of Florida Aquatic Animal Medicine residency, NC State's zoological and aquatic medicine residency and Illinois's zoological and aquatic animal medicine residency. ACZM also points applicants to the VIRMP, the veterinary internship and residency matching program.
Some vets skip the residency and grow into the field on the job with mentors. For the current list of courses, externships, internships and residencies, see IAAAM's student page.
Board certification vs certification: ACZM and WAVMA
These two get mixed up constantly. They are different things, and you don't need either one to work with aquatic animals.
ACZM board certification | WAVMA CertAqV | |
|---|---|---|
Who runs it | American College of Zoological Medicine, an AVMA-recognized specialty college | World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association, which calls itself the only international association dedicated exclusively to aquatic veterinary medicine |
What you become | A Diplomate (board-certified specialist). Aquatic Animal Medicine is one of ACZM's 4 recognized specialties | A WAVMA Certified Aquatic Veterinarian |
Who can apply | Licensed graduates of an AVMA-accredited school (or ECFVG certificate holders) | Veterinarians and senior vet students who are WAVMA members |
Training | College-wide rules: 3 years in an ACZM-compliant program, or 6 years of experience with 2 Diplomate mentors | Documented knowledge, skills and experience across 9 subject areas, with a mentor |
Other requirements | College-wide rules: 3 first-author papers in refereed journals; a qualifying and a certifying exam | At least 150 credits, including 25 from clinical experience; renewal every 5 years with 50 hours of aquatic CE |
Best for | Vets who want the specialist title and can commit to years of extra training | Vets in any aquatic sector who want formal recognition of their competency |
ACZM board certification is the specialist title and takes years of extra training. CertAqV recognizes competency and can be earned alongside regular work, including in fish and aquaculture practice.
One caution on ACZM: the college is moving to recognized specialties, and its Aquatic Animal Medicine page is still under construction. The rules above are the ones ACZM publishes for the whole college, so check ACZM for the aquatic track's current requirements (and WAVMA for CertAqV) before you plan around them.
Where aquatic vets work
The University of Florida, IAAAM and WAVMA list these settings:
- Aquariums and zoos: daily care of fish, marine mammals, sea turtles and invertebrates, plus water quality. If big animal collections are your thing, compare this with becoming a zoo vet.
- Rehabilitation centers: stranded marine mammals, sea turtles and seabirds, with the goal of release.
- Government wildlife agencies: health of free-ranging populations.
- Aquaculture: the health of farmed fish raised for food, often whole-farm medicine.
- Ornamental fish practice: pet fish, koi and the ornamental fish trade.
- Research and teaching: universities, research facilities and conservation programs.
The day-to-day depends on the setting. St. Matthew's University lists diagnosing and treating illness and injury, helping rehabilitate animals hurt by pollution or accidents, research on new treatment protocols, conservation projects, teaching, and water quality monitoring.
If horses pull at you as much as dolphins do, see how to become an equine veterinarian, and for the full list of specialty boards, our guide to types of veterinary specialists.
How much do aquatic vets make?
No official pay figure exists for aquatic vets specifically. The US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reports veterinarians as one group: the median annual wage for veterinarians was $130,100 (BLS, May 2025 data). That covers every kind of vet, so treat it as a benchmark, not a promise. Aquatic pay varies with the employer (nonprofit aquarium, university, government, private aquaculture), the region and board certification, and the "aquatic vet salary" figures you see online are usually unsourced.
Skills that help
Water quality comes first: WAVMA lists the aquatic environment and life support systems as a core subject area. You also need to handle and restrain animals you can't hold like a dog, from a small fish to a sea lion, adapt anesthesia and imaging to aquatic species, and work closely with biologists, trainers, conservationists and farm managers.
FAQ
How long does it take to become an aquatic veterinarian?
About 8 years after high school to become a licensed vet (4 years of college and 4 of vet school), plus 1-2 years for an aquatic internship. For ACZM board certification, add the usual 1-year internship and 3-4 year residency after vet school: 12 or more years in all.
What is the difference between a marine biologist and an aquatic veterinarian?
A marine biologist studies ocean life and its environment; an aquatic veterinarian diagnoses and treats animals. BLS groups marine biologists with zoologists and wildlife biologists, a job that typically needs a bachelor's degree, while vets need a 4-year DVM and a license. The BLS median for zoologists and wildlife biologists was $76,780 (May 2025 data), against $130,100 for veterinarians. If research or field biology appeals more than medicine, a biology degree is the shorter road.
Is it hard to get a job as an aquatic vet?
Yes, it is a small, competitive field. The University of Florida calls aquatic opportunities limited and competitive, and IAAAM says new graduates rarely get an aquatic position right away. Your best odds come from steady experience, externships, an internship and the people you meet at conferences such as IAAAM, the American Association of Zoo Veterinarians (AAZV) and the Wildlife Disease Association (WDA).
Do I need to go to a vet school near the ocean?
No. Any accredited vet school works. A school with aquatic electives, or one near aquariums and fish farms, makes exposure easier, and UF's online courses are open to students from other schools.
Originally written by Amber LaRock. Updated by the I Love Veterinary editorial team.
Sources
- University of Florida College of Veterinary Medicine: Aquatic Animal Health Program FAQs
- University of Florida: Aquatic Animal Medicine Certificate
- IAAAM: Student Information and Aquatic Animal Medicine Educational Opportunities
- IAAAM: How Do I Get Into Aquatic Animal Medicine?
- American College of Zoological Medicine: Certification
- American College of Zoological Medicine: ACZM Specialties
- American College of Zoological Medicine: Aquatic Animal Medicine
- American College of Zoological Medicine: FAQ
- WAVMA: World Aquatic Veterinary Medical Association
- WAVMA: Certified Aquatic Veterinarian (CertAqV) Program
- International Council for Veterinary Assessment: NAVLE
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Veterinarians
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Occupational Outlook Handbook, Zoologists and Wildlife Biologists
- St. Matthew's University School of Veterinary Medicine: A Comprehensive Guide to a Career in Aquatic Animal Veterinary Medicine
