Who is a veterinarian?
A veterinary physician, usually called a vet, which is shortened from veterinarian (American English, Australian English) or veterinary surgeon (British English), is a professional who practises veterinary medicine by treating diseases, disorders and injuries in animals.
In fulfilling a career path in this field, the following tips will help.
Gain experience
Preparing for a career as a veterinarian begins long before graduating from high school. You will want to gain as much experience with animals and in the veterinary field as possible during high school and your undergraduate years.
This experience will expose you to what veterinarians actually do and give you veterinary experience to put on your resume for veterinary school.
Graduate from high school
While in high school, you should pay attention to your performance in science courses, such as Chemistry, Biology and Physics. Also pay attention to Mathematics courses, such as Trigonometry, Geometry and Algebra. If you can excel in these areas, it may be a good indicator that medicine is the right field for you.
Get a bachelors degree
You will need to attend a college that offers the prerequisite courses for admittance into a veterinary college. Make sure to complete all prerequisite courses for veterinary school.
These courses consist of many advanced science disciplines such as Biochemistry, Organic and Inorganic Chemistry and Physics. They are necessary to prepare the student for the vigorous coursework in veterinary college.
Work hard on your application to veterinary school
Getting into a veterinary school is very hard. There are far fewer veterinary schools than medical schools. So, you need to make your application stand out. Making your application stand out is not hard. First, you will need to get lots of veterinary experience.
Pass your licensing exam
At the end of the fourth year of study, veterinary students will take the test required in order for you to obtain a license to practise veterinary medicine.
Consider interning for one year prior to finding a permanent position
This will offer you the chance to have a specialisation, like internal medicine or surgery. That way you’ll really be a professional in your chosen area of expertise.
This one year period could be just a temporary gig, or it could turn into something more substantial. Whatever it is, find someone who can serve as your mentor that’s doing what you want to do in the future.
Start your job search
Most veterinary students begin their job search during their final half of the fourth year in college. Most veterinarians work in private veterinary clinics that provide medical care for pets.
Other veterinarians specialise in working with large animals like horses, cows, and sheep, travelling to ranches and farms to provide care.
Still, other veterinarians specialise in treating exotic animals in zoos or aquariums.
Take the veterinarian oath
Before you start working and caring for animals, you need to take the veterinarian oath. You are basically promising that you will use your powers for good and not evil.
Be ready to communicate with both animals and people
In order to succeed in this job, you must be compassionate, confident and able to communicate and make decisions. Despite the opportunity to work with kittens and puppies (along with all other animals), there will always be a person attached to the animals you will need to communicate with to give them the best care possible.
