Veterinarian License in Kentucky

Kentucky requires a DVM degree from an AVMA-accredited school, passage of the NAVLE, and a state-specific examination. The Kentucky Board of Veterinary Examiners regulates the profession. Auburn University and the University of Tennessee are among the most common veterinary schools attended by Kentucky residents, as the state does not have its own AVMA-accredited veterinary program, though it participates in regional contract agreements for subsidized seats. Kentucky's world-renowned thoroughbred horse industry, centered in the Bluegrass Region around Lexington and home to iconic farms like Calumet and Claiborne, creates one of the most concentrated equine veterinary markets in the world. Rood and Riddle Equine Hospital and Hagyard Equine Medical Institute are internationally recognized practices that attract equine specialists globally. Beyond equine medicine, Kentucky's agricultural economy includes significant cattle, poultry, and bourbon-related grain production. The state's Appalachian communities in eastern Kentucky face veterinary workforce shortages for both companion-animal and livestock care, and the state has explored rural incentive programs to address this gap.