Have you ever considered becoming a veterinarian? Although some might consider vet school a challenging career path, it’s worth considering it. After all, veterinarians play a key role in keeping our animals healthy, whether they live indoors or outdoors.
Veterinarians are trained animal care professionals who examine, diagnose, treat, and prevent animal disease and injury. Research from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that vet jobs in the U.S. are expected to grow by 17% from 2020 to 2030, the fastest growth rate for all occupations.
The Period Required to Become a Vet
To know what kind of education is required to be a veterinarian, you first need to understand how long it takes to become one. The exact time it takes depends on your personal goals and preferences. However, you can spend about 8 to 10 years training at either an undergraduate or postgraduate level. Some students choose veterinary medicine because they desire to work with animals.
Others choose veterinary science because they enjoy working with their hands and helping animals. Many schools offer 4-year programs that lead to a Bachelor’s Degree in Veterinary Medicine (B.V.M.). Others only require two years’ worth of classes and allow students to transfer credits to four-year colleges. Still, others offer associate degrees in veterinary technology or veterinary assisting.
Qualities Required to Become a Vet
- You need to have specific qualities even before knowing what kind of education is required to be a veterinarian.
- Intelligence – While some may think vets are dumb, that may not be true. Vets spend more hours studying than many other professions. They use that knowledge to help animals live longer. Even if your pet has a minor ailment, having a smart vet may mean the difference between life and death for them.
- Patience – Not everyone enjoys dealing with sick pets. But patience is an essential skill in keeping a happy client base. If a vet cannot communicate clearly or is rude or impatient, they may not receive many referrals.
- Self-discipline – Your patients depend on your ability to stay calm and collected under stress. When things get messy, it’s your job to keep everything under control.
- Dedication – Dedication means putting aside everything else and focusing on your animal patients. When you dedicate yourself to your job, you’ll never get bored doing it.
What Kind of Education Is Required to Be a Veterinarian in High School?
Studying veterinary science requires high school students to take several courses besides their regular curriculum. The topics covered include animal anatomy, physiology, behavior, pathology, pharmacology, toxicology, microbiology, nutrition, reproduction, and genetics. These subjects will provide students with an extensive knowledge base of biology required to succeed in veterinary school.
Many colleges need the lowest grade point average (G.P.A.) to qualify for admission. To achieve this, high school students must study hard throughout their entire school career. This means many students put off starting veterinary studies until they graduate from high school. Also, summer camp programs can give young pupils hands-on animal training.
But you’ll want to make early preparations once you’ve pursued veterinary medicine. While some schools offer advanced placement programs, these focus almost only on math and sciences. Students who choose veterinary medicine need to handle both theoretical and practical aspects of medicine.
Choosing a Medical College
To start a successful career as a veterinarian, you’ll need to choose the right program. There are many veterinary colleges out there offering different levels of education and training for veterinarians. Most offer degrees ranging from diploma level to doctorate degrees.
Other schools only offer diplomas, while some give certificates or degrees at various levels. Some even focus on specific areas, including emergency medicine, surgery, and dentistry. Some colleges provide veterinary care and pre-veterinary courses, while others concentrate solely on their vet school program.
To get into veterinary college, you require at least a 3.5 GPA. However, if your G.P.A. does not meet this requirement, the school may assess your application based on other factors, including S.A.T. and A.C.T. scores. If you have taken S.A.T. in the past, admissions will look to see how well you compared to average students. Candidates should score above the national average but under what is considered ‘above average’ according to their institution.
Most veterinarians spend at least three years studying at university before becoming licensed to practice medicine. Depending on the college or university you attend, you’ll graduate with a bachelor’s degree or a doctorate. After graduation, some programs require additional training and certification.
Getting Some Experience
To better understand what life is like working in the animal hospital industry, engaging in extracurricular events is better. Consider the experience as part of what kind of education is required to be a veterinarian. You can become attached to high school clubs like 4-H or F.F.A. or look for volunteer activities at the animal clinic shelter, zoo, or even a dog care center to get hands-on knowledge. Another option is to spend some time working with a real veterinarian in their office. Regardless of your path, you will get essential experience in the field and learn about what it takes to become a veterinarian.
Having a record of voluntary work is another boost to your career. Also, some schools may want to know why you’d be a good match for their school or program. Having particular volunteer experiences to draw on will give you an edge compared to other learners.
Becoming a Veterinarian in College
If you’re wondering what kind of education is required to be a veterinarian, selecting the right college is the beginning of what comes next. After graduation, you’ll need to complete veterinary school before becoming a vet. You’ll need to study hard and earn excellent grades if you want to succeed in this challenging career. Your major, achievements, relationships with your professors, and expertise with pets will all help determine your success.
Selecting What to Major In
You may prepare for veterinary school by picking a major that matches your interests and goals. Some schools expect you to finish specific prerequisites before joining the program, while others allow you to enter directly after high school graduation. It would help if you decided on your career choice based on what you hope to pursue once you graduate. Here is what kind of education is required to be a veterinarian.
- A two-semester course in broad biology that includes laboratory work
- Two years of physics, including a laboratory component.
- A two-semester course in organic chemistry
- Education – Including A.P. classes completed in college
- Basic chemistry with a laboratory component may be required for two semesters.
- Molecular Biology or Biochemistry lab courses for one or two semesters.
- A background in cell biology is possible.
- Math, ranging from basic algebra and trigonometry
- Calculus as a minimal requirement
Additional courses in animal science, genetics, or microbiology may also add to what kind of education is required to be a veterinarian. Certain four-year colleges and institutions offer pre-vet programs. If you want to specialize in animal dental care, you may have other considerations. It is unnecessary to be a pre-vet to go to vet school, but if you are interested in a particular area, such as zoological medicine and equine science, look into pre-vet options.
Undergraduate Education
Getting a bachelor’s degree can make you achieve that goal to know what kind of education is required to be a veterinarian. Even if a bachelor’s degree is not required to enroll in a veterinary medical school, you may need it because of the competitive nature of the admissions process. Veterinary institutions recommend getting a degree covering organic chemistry, basic biology, biochemistry, and general chemistry. A pre-veterinary distribution may be required as a component of a bachelor’s degree in animal science, zoology, microbiology, or other related fields at certain educational institutions. Also, they recommend maintaining an undergraduate grade point average of at least 3.5.
Veterinarian Degree (D.V.M.)
A DVM is the ultimate answer to what kind of education is required to be a veterinarian. After graduating from an undergraduate program, the usual time spent studying to get one’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree is four years. The school will split most of your classes throughout the first two years of veterinary school between sitting in on lessons and participating in coursework.
Requirements for a D.V.M. Degree
Although having a bachelor’s degree is unnecessary to qualify for a D.V.M. study, you need a specific amount of credit units earned as an undergraduate student. This number ranges anywhere from 45 to 90, based on the institution. Completing coursework should earn these credits in physics, genetics, animal nutrition, and science-related programs.
Before applying for acceptance into a D.V.M. school, you must pass the Graduate Record Examination (GRE). Some educational institutions may require applicants to have experience dealing with animals as part of their admissions criteria.
Program Coursework (D.V.M.)
The curriculum of a D.V.M. degree emphasizes more advanced coursework in many subfields within animal science. You will study the fields of immunology, anatomy, bacteriology, histology, and others under veterinary medicine. That will help you gain medical knowledge and skills relevant to animals, such as surgery, anesthesia, and pharmacology. You will pick an area of concentration at many institutions, such as equines, small animals, or food animals, which will determine the course you select in your future professional life. In the final year of education, you will spend most of your time in clinical apprenticeships or clerkships. During this time, you will get practical experience working in a setting focused on the area of specialty you have selected.
Expect to take classes like parasitology, immunology, and pharmacology in this program. You will receive practical experience in the lab caring for animals while also gaining knowledge about many types of animals. In your last year of veterinary school, you will undergo training in many veterinary medical subspecialties.
Post Graduate Training
This forms part of what kind of education is required to be a veterinarian. After getting their license, most graduates opt to gain more knowledge that is practical by participating in an internship for one year after graduation. Suppose you want to gain board certification in a specific subspecialty of veterinary medicine and work in that vet services field? In that case, you must complete a residency course of at least three or four years and pass the associated examinations.
Licensing
Obtaining a license varies from state to state. But you must pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam to practice veterinary medicine in any state. Besides, you will need to take an additional test to show knowledge of the rules and laws that govern the state. You’ll also have the choice to expand your credentials by earning board certification.
To accomplish this goal, participate in a rigorous residency program that will run for three to four years. During school, you will concentrate on one of the 39 veterinary medicine subspecialties approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). Nutrition, surgery, cardiology, pathology, dermatology, and internal medicine are some specialties falling under this category.
Veterinarian Salary
According to B.L.S., veterinarians are among the highest-paid professionals in the United States. In fact, they can earn as much as $134,060 per year or as little as $108,350 annually. This wage data covers the year 2020.
Alternative Careers
If you want a veterinarian career, try to explore other professions such as veterinary laser surgery, dental, or dog boarding within the same industry. Others like technicians operate in animal clinics to assist veterinarians in identifying and treating animals. One needs an associate’s degree to enter the workforce at an entry-level position in technology. A bachelor’s degree is required for work in zoology and wildlife biology.
Veterinary medicine is a demanding career. It requires long hours of studying and working, but the rewards are great. Besides helping animals, veterinarians also provide medical care for humans. They also manage healthcare facilities and promote health awareness in communities.
