Veterinary Careers

For individuals who are concerned about animals, becoming a Veterinarian can offer a rewarding career. Veterinarians are doctors that specialize in the treatment of animals. Some veterinarians choose to work in research to expand the existing knowledge of animals while others choose to work in a clinical setting working with small animals such as dogs and cats or larger animals such as cows and horses.

Veterinarians treat animals for sickness and disease, perform surgery, position fractures, give vaccinations, bandage wounds, administer medications and teach owners about diets, conditions and special needs. With the growing population of cats and dogs, the need for more Veterinarians is on the rise and the future outlook is positive for those who are considering becoming a Veterinarian. People are willing to spend plenty of money on the healthcare of their beloved pets.

For students who are interested in choosing this profession as their career, they first must obtain a bachelor degree in science. Once this degree has been obtained, the student must apply and be accepted into a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine approved school. After this schooling is completed they must become licensed in the state they plan to practice in by taking and passing the state and national exams. It is important to select a school that is recognized by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges (AAVMC).

The program for receiving a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine normally takes four years to complete. The first three years contains elective and core courses with the final year involving clinicals in the specific area of specialty the student chooses.

Students will discover that graduate school is very different than undergraduate education. The courses that are required are fewer and are highly focused on specific disciplines. Most programs emphasize research over regular coursework and graduate students will be expected to spend much of their study time doing laboratory and field research.

They will also be required to study literature that is related to their projects and do experiments. The success of completing this program is not just about grades, but also includes the quality and quantity of the research that was done and the published reports about them.

Tuition costs for attending a veterinary school varies greatly. The average costs in the United States is $22,500 for each of the first three years and then goes up to $24,500 for the last year of the program. For non-residents, tuition cost is much higher. For books and supplies the average costs is about $4,500 for the first year, $2,200 for the second $3,300 for the third and $4,300 for the fourth year.

Final exams are required for each course that is taken and is included in the calculation of the student’s grade point average. Finals include all materials that were covered during the semester and most schools use strict guidelines such as no questions are allowed during the exam, no one can leave the room while the exam is being taken or if they do leave, they may not return.

The average time that finals last is about 3 hours and if the student fails to attend the scheduled exam they will automatically fail unless they have a written excuse. No calculators or palm pilots can be used during these exams as well as no cell phones, books or notes.

State licensing is mandatory for veterinarians to practice. This assures that they are qualified to practice at the high standard that is required. Each state has different policies regarding their requirements for licensing of veterinarians. Most require that the graduate attended an accredited school that has been approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association and that they have passed the national board exam during the last five years.

They must also provide proof that they passed the Clinical Competency Test within the last five years. Fees for state licensing varies among states. Processing normally takes about 30 to 60 days. Upon completion of receiving a state license, continuing education is mandatory. The employment opportunities for veterinarians range from local animal shelters to farms, zoos, and research laboratories. Some vets may even get the chance to travel all over the world on missions that feature wildlife exploration.