A number of responses are trying to equate vet school with medical school.  Medical school requires the student to have 4 years of undergraduate study, then 4 years of medical school, then apply and pass the medical boards.  At that point the medical student is now a fully licensed MD and he or she can apply for an Internship and then a Residency program.  Once they are interns and fully licensed as physicians, then they begin to work with real patients.  I would suggest that the taxpayers in VA would be better served if the vet shcool followed the same program.  Once you are licensed as a vet, then apply for an internship with a vet hospital.  Also, pets are seen as personal property and for the most part have no intrinsic value, so having liability insurance is a non issue.  The value assign to a pet is so low, that is it not worth bringing a lawsuit if a vet or student harm or kills your pet even when the negligence of the vet is obvious.  Please do not allow these 1st, 2nd and 3rd year students to "practice" on our pets.  Thanks.