Charles Anderson earned his degree at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine. Anderson began working as a veterinarian with Anderson Veterinary Hospital in 1981. He has also worked as a rancher. Anderson served on committees for the Texas Association of Business and the National Federation of Independent Businesses and was appointed to the Texas Small Business Advisory Council by Gov. Rick Perry. In 1998 and 2000, he represented Texas as a delegate to the Congressional Small Business Summit in Washington, DC. Anderson has served also as a member of the Committee on Agriculture, Energy, and the Environment with the National Conference of State Legislatures.