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Veterinary medicine is a specialized area of animal and pet care,
and veterinarian colleges prepare students for a variety of
roles in research, medicinal administration, and treatment of
both animals and humans. Veterinarian schools train students to
work with pets, zoo animals, laboratory animals, and livestock.
Specialized practitioners may choose to work exclusively at
farms or ranches, while others may choose to work at an animal
care facility or open up their own veterinarian medicine
practice. Studying veterinarian science at veterinarian school
offers multiple opportunities within the field, but admission to
veterinarian colleges can be especially competitive. After
rigorous training and education, many veterinarians choose to
open their own clinics or work independently on a consultant
basis. Others choose to work in research and developments in
veterinarian medicine.
Why Study Veterinary Medicine?
Veterinary medicine offers a diverse and changing field in healthcare for both
animals and humans, and many students of veterinary schools enhance their
education by specializing in a particular field. Veterinary colleges are
designed to provide both clinical experience and knowledge training in various
specialties. Graduates of veterinary schools are able to diagnose illnesses,
reduce pain, and help cure diseases for animals suffering from various
conditions.
Veterinarians are generally responsible for:
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Diagnosing animal diseases
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Treating injured or sick animals
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Advising pet owners on appropriate animal care
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Reviewing veterinary medicine publications and research results
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Treating animals with medical equipment and sometimes sophisticated
laboratories
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Contributing to human health
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Food safety testing
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Quarantining animals
Skills Developed in Veterinarian School
A prospective veterinarian must be comfortable working with a variety of animals
and owners, and learn how to administer and diagnose illnesses. Veterinary
school training offers students a chance to gain skills in bonding with pets and
animals of all sizes. Even when a veterinarian career leads to a private
practice, or treatment of only small or large animals, some important skills
needed include:
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Working with a wide range of sophisticated medical equipment
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Working long hours, both in a lab setting and on location when needed
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Getting along with pet owners
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Forming strong bonds with pets
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Strong communication and business skills
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Being able to promote their private practice
Programs and Courses at Veterinary School and Veterinary College
Students interested in pursuing veterinary medicine can choose from
a variety of programs and courses at veterinary school. Veterinary schools offer
the basic training for a lifelong career in the field, and specializations may
include research, veterinary medicine administration, and studies in
veterinarian science.
Common programs offered at veterinarian colleges include:
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Pre
Veterinary Education
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Undergraduate programs
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Graduate programs
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Faculty
Research
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Veterinarian medicine counseling
Each veterinary college may also offer specialized studies and
departments including:
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Endocrine & Metabolism Research
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Companion Animal Initiative programs
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Center
for Agriculture & Food Security
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Disaster Animal Response programs
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Humans
& Animal Relationships
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Rural
Veterinary Services
Common courses offered at veterinary school, veterinary colleges,
and vet school include:
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General
Biology
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Genetics
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Animal
Breeding
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Qualitative Chemistry
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Biochemistry, including modern medicine practices
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Statistics
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Social
studies and sciences
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Animal
nutrition
Training and Course Requirements for a Veterinary License and a Veterinarian
Career
While an undergraduate degree offers basic training in veterinary medicine, a
veterinarian must complete other requirements in order to earn a license. They
will need to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from and accredited college of
veterinary medicine in addition to completing state-administered licensure
requirements. Veterinarian colleges offer a variety of colleges and courses of
study, but admission to a veterinarian school for graduate work can be very
competitive. Admission to veterinary school requires a strong educational track
record, in addition to passing the Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT). The
Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) is another option for some veterinary
colleges, and an internship or related experience may also play a role in
admissions.
Formal experience in a clinical setting is especially helpful for prospective
graduates of vet school or those interested in a long-term career in
veterinarian science. Formal experience allows students to demonstrate their
knowledge and learning, and can take place in a supervised setting such as a
health science clinic, veterinarian laboratory, or even within an agribusiness
department.
All 50 states and the District of Columbia require licensure of registered
veterinarians, and these are available after successful completion of the D.V.M.
degree. Most states also require an additional examination and testing for
clinical competency, and a licensed veterinarian must also pursue continuing
education in order to to keep their license.
Veterinarian Career Earning Potential and Employment Prospects
Veterinarian career prospects look promising as the employment of
veterinarians through 2014 is expected to grow as fast as average. Vet school
training offers students a chance to open up their own clinical practice if they
do not choose to work in an animal hospital or clinic. The growth of pet owners
who have the ability to obtain pet health insurance and make regular visits to
the vet make a veterinarian career an attractive employment opportunity. Those
who prefer to work in rural or isolated areas may choose to become large-animal
veterinarians where they work exclusively at a farm or other animal care
facility. Those interested in raising public awareness about veterinary health
issues may also choose to work with the Federal Government or related nonprofit
agencies.
Median annual earnings for those pursuing a veterinarian career
were $66,590 in 2004. Related occupations include:
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Animal care and service workers
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Veterinary technologists
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Veterinary technicians
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Vet school researchers
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Veterinarian science instructors
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Veterinarian medicine researchers
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Veterinary college professors
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