Do you feel unhappy when you are not able to help any animal when they are injured? Are you also an animal lover and want to develop a career by which you can easily help them? Well if your answer to both questions is Yes, then the best way to help them is by becoming a Veterinarian. As a veterinarian you will not only be able to help them but also can create awareness among the people on how to treat them.
Quick Takeaways
- A veterinarian is a doctor, but a doctor who treats animals.
- It may take time to become a veterinarian or a doctor, you will have to get an undergraduate degree after high school.
- After getting the degree, you will need to gain the necessary experience to get into med schools.
However, you must read till the end so that you could understand how can you become a Physiatrist.
Who are Veterinarians?
Veterinarians are the people who take care of the animals and help them if they suffer from any injury or illness. You can even get specialized in a specific type of animal like horses, dogs, cats, etc. As a veterinarian, you will have to work for a long time just in case of an emergency. A veterinarian is just like a doctor, the way a doctor treats the patient, a veterinarian treats animals. Another responsibility that you will be doing is to check and prescribe medicines to them. Also, you will have to perform the surgery on animals if necessary.
How to become a Veterinarian?
When you choose a profession, the qualifications are different for each profession like being a midwife, lawyer, logistician, etc. To become a Veterinarian you need to follow the given things –
High school
You should take up science subjects, like biology, chemistry, physics, etc as much as possible. Having science subjects is vital as this helps to open various medical-related opportunities.
Undergraduate degree
You need to finish a bachelor’s degree in the subject related to veterinarians. You can choose subjects related to biology or physical science. Also along with the undergraduate degree, choose your colleges wisely. Do full research on which college offers you the best degree related to veterinarians.
Gain experience
Even while your grades and exam results are vital, it’s a smart idea to participate in extracurricular activities that will give you exposure to how to interact with animals daily. Find volunteer opportunities at the humane society, zoo, or even a livestock farm to get related experience.
You can even work as a real veterinarian’s assistant. Each of these alternatives will provide you with useful practical experience and teach you how to become a veterinarian. Also, you can find out about some related internships.
Veterinarian Schools
Next is to take part in various programs offered by veterinarian schools. Remember that Vet schools are different from medical schools. You must think about sending applications like VITA applications to these colleges when you are in your junior years. Take your time to select the school before sending the application. When you are thinking of applying to veterinary schools, you must think about various factors like the speciality you want to join, tuition fees, your extra expenses, etc.
One thing that is very important when deciding on a vet school is what kind of on-campus training they are offering. It is because once you complete your school, you have to work with animals. You can also attend pre-vet schools for becoming a veterinarian.
Obtain the license
When you graduate you will get a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) or Veterinary Medicine Doctor (VMD). Once you get it and have gained relevant experience, apply for your license. You can take up various exams including the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE). When you get the license you can start professional practice.
FAQs
How long does it take to become a Veterinarian?
The duration of becoming a Veterinarian depends upon what type of specialty you will be doing as a Veterinarian. Usually, it will take 8 years in total for becoming a Veterinarian.
You will be spending 4 years to complete an undergraduate degree and 4 years in Vet schools. But if you are thinking of doing a specialty in some complex stream like surgery or pathology then it can go up to 10 years including the required experience.
What is the annual salary of the Veterinarians?
Well, the annual salary of Veterinarians varies from state to state and country to country. However, if we talk about their average annual salary, the range lies between $85,000 – $95,000. Also as per some research, the median salary of the least-paid 25% of Veterinarians is about $79,430, and for the most-paid, 25% is $126,000.
As time is changing more people have started loving animals, due to which the demand for Veterinarians has also increased. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics,14500 new jobs have been determined till 2030. This means that the veterinarian sector will grow by 17%.
Conclusion
Many people who are animal lovers, think of building their careers to help them. They take up admissions in medical colleges and then at vet schools. Choosing the correct undergraduate degree and vet school as well. Though it will take around 8 years of your life to become a Veterinarian, it can be increased up to 10 years depending upon the profession you want to go for.