Do you really enjoy working with animals? Are you concerned about their health and well being? Then you may be interested in becoming a veterinarian. The choices of animals to work with vary from small and familiar to large and exotic. You will learn about their health, habits and appetites and keep them healthy. But you will also deal with challenges from surgery to dealing with owners. Or you may want to do research which contributes to the welfare of animals and people?
Identification
The professional organization for veterinarians is the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA). The AVMA Council on Education sets accreditation standards that must be met by veterinary colleges. Becoming a veterinarian involves more than just classes though. Work or volunteer at a pet clinic or zoo. See if you are capable and really like being around animals and the work environment. This also shows the veterinarian school that you have experience and knowledge.
Time Frame
A graduate degree from an accredited veterinary college of medicine is followed by state licensing. School admission is very competitive and may not require a completed bachelor's degree but a number of credit hours. However, this is a limited option since most schools do look for a bachelor's degree. The courses should cover chemistry, organic and inorganic, biochemistry, biology, cellular biology, microbiology, genetics, animal related courses in biology and nutrition, embryology, physics, physiology, and zoology. Math requirements can range from algebra, trigonometry, pre-calculus, calculus, to statistics. Show well roundedness with courses in other areas such as the humanities, communications, English and literature. And since you may be running your own practice include business classes. Learn about each of the different accredited veterinary schools so see which would be best suited for you. Once you've find the right one look at what their requirements are.
Other things you need to do to apply are to ask people if they will write recommendations for you. These can be from instructors, employers, or places where you have volunteered or interned at. See what test requirements the veterinary schools needs whether the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), or the Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT).
The Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. OR V.M.D) is a four year program. Following this there is a choice of going into a one year internship for additional learning. Or there are three to four year residency programs for specialties with your area of interest. This also enables you to become board certified by the American Veterinary Medical Association. Some of the specialties are: anesthesiology, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, exotic small animal medicine, internal medicine, neurology, nutrition, oncology, ophthalmology, pathology, preventative medicine and radiology. But a graduate may also start to work as soon as they graduate and are licensed.
A national examination, the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam, has to be passed. And each state and the District of Columbia require a license for practicing. Depending upon the state, testing for understanding the laws and regulations for that state may be necessary. Also, tests to verify clinical proficiency may be administered.
Features
Once you have completed all of the requirements what is the practical application? If you enter into an agricultural veterinarian practice you can work with farm animals. This would mean driving to the farms to work with the animals. You may be helping with a birth, checking general health, giving annual check ups with immunizations or managing any kind of emergency.
Function
If you work with small animals, again, there is determining what the cause of illness is, annual check ups with administration of immunizations and performing surgery. The work hours can be long and include twenty-four hour availability to take care of emergencies.
Zoos generally hire veterinarians on a contract basis. You need to be knowledgeable of exotic diseases and nutrition requirements. Here too, there is the annual check up along with immunizations and emergencies.
Significance
In general, veterinarians work in clinics with other veterinarians. This makes it possible to deal with the twenty-four hour, seven day a week work requirements with more flexibility. Scheduling times for when someone is to cover emergencies assures the pet owner that a veterinarian is always available. Also, by rotating being on call the other clinic veterinarians are able to have time off.
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