Roadmap to Become a Veterinarian
By: Gregg Jones
Veterinarian is becoming a very booming career for many all over the world. How to become a veterinarian is not a difficult question. However, there are some confusion about what is the exact job of a veterinarian, what does this person practice and how to get the specialized and the required education opt this field as a career.
A veterinarian is the one who treats the illness, disease, infection and injury of an animal. Their duties include issuing immunizations, setting broken bones, performing surgeries and prescribing medicine. Many people think of their Pets as if they’re part of the family and will admire you for saving their Pet as if you had saved one of their Children. That’s why it is a noble and satisfying career. However, most of us know that achieving that goal is going to be extremely hard.
To become a vet you have to start early, especially from your high school years. Take biology and chemistry very seriously as how much you learn here impacts how well you perform in graduate schools. High GPA and SAT scores pave the way for entrance to more prestigious schools and most veterinary schools certainly consider the quality of your undergraduate education.
Earning a bachelor degree is the first step of how to become a veteran. For applying to a veteran school, most students should have a bachelor degree with major in pre-veterinary studies, biology or a related area of study. Usually, veterinary schools require undergraduate coursework in physics, organic and inorganic chemistry, math, biochemistry and biology with recommended classes include genetics, statistics, microbiology, cellular biology and vertebrate anatomy. Students with bachelor degree of unrelated fields must either meet the science and math prerequisites or complete the requirements before starting veterinary school. Checking the recommendations of their chosen veterinary schools before selecting courses is the best way to be educated about it.
Previous working experience with animals help students enrolling in veterinary schools. Interning or volunteering at an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, zoo or wildlife rehabilitation center make admission process easier for students. Some students gain hands-on experience with livestock by working on farms.
To become a veterinarian, a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree is required. Entrance into such programs is highly competitive. One third of the applicants were accepted in 2007. Schools may require certain scores on pre-admission tests such as the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
During their study period, first two years students spend most of their time in classroom lectures on typical courses including animal nutrition, bacteriology, parasitology, virology and diagnostic imaging. Students generally get practical experience in veterinary hospitals during the last two years. During this time they learn to interact with animal owners, evaluate patients, write treatment plans and provide care under the supervision of faculty veterinarians.
For start practicing, new veterinarians need to be licensed. For a license, they require a passing grade on the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE), a 360-question, multiple-choice exam taken during two annual windows. In addition to it, veterinarians are also tested on state laws and regulations relevant to veterinary practice.
Degree and license don’t make one eligible to start practicing as a veteran.
Veterinarians have the option of completing 3-year to 4-year residencies that allow veterinarians to become experts in one of the specialties recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association, such as exotic small animals, oncology, dentistry or preventive medicine.
Step One: Earning a Bachelor’s Degree
Most students who apply to veterinary school have bachelor’s degrees and majored in pre-veterinary studies, biology or a related area of study. Veterinary schools usually require undergraduate coursework in physics, organic and inorganic chemistry, math, biochemistry and biology. Recommended classes include genetics, statistics, microbiology, cellular biology and vertebrate anatomy.
Graduates of bachelor’s degree programs in unrelated fields must either meet the science and math prerequisites or complete the requirements before starting veterinary school. Students should check the recommendations of their chosen veterinary schools before selecting courses.
Step Two: Gaining Work Experience with Animals
Veterinary schools usually require previous work with animals. Students who wish to attend veterinary school can intern or volunteer at an animal shelter, veterinary clinic, zoo or wildlife rehabilitation center. Some students gain hands-on experience with livestock by working on farms.
Step Three: Attending Veterinary School
A Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree is required to become a veterinarian. Entrance into such programs is highly competitive. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, one-third of veterinary school applicants were accepted in 2007 (www.bls.gov). Programs are rigorous because veterinary students must master the anatomy and physiology of numerous species. Schools may require certain scores on pre-admission tests such as the Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT) or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT).
During the first two years, students spend most of their time in classroom lectures. Typical courses include animal nutrition, bacteriology, parasitology, virology and diagnostic imaging. During the last two years, students generally get practical experience in veterinary hospitals. They learn to interact with animal owners, evaluate patients, write treatment plans and provide care under the supervision of faculty veterinarians.
Step Four: Becoming Licensed
New veterinarians need to be licensed before they can practice. All licensing jurisdictions in the U.S. require a passing grade on the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE), a 360-question, multiple-choice exam taken during two annual windows. In most states, veterinarians are also tested on state laws and regulations relevant to veterinary practice.
Step Five: Completing a Veterinary Residency
After finishing veterinary school and obtaining licensure, veterinarians have the option of completing 3-year to 4-year residencies. These allow veterinarians to become experts in one of the specialties recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association, such as exotic small animals, oncology, dentistry or preventive medicine.
Their duties include issuing immunizations, setting broken bones, performing surgeries and prescribing medicine. In order to become a veterinarian, an individual must earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and obtain licensure.
Veterinary is a noble and satisfying career. Many people think of their Pets as if they’re part of the family and will admire you for saving their Pet as if you had saved one of their Children. With more and more people getting Pets and raising livestock, this is one profession that is in demand and under served in many areas of the Country.
If you would like to become a veterinarian, there is a very good chance that this has been your dream for quite some time. If you’re still not sure if this is the career for you, then perhaps learning how to become a Veterinarian Assistant would be more to your liking. If you are smart enough and have the determination that you need, you can easily make this happen. However, most of us know that achieving that goal is going to be extremely hard. This article will help you understand how to get started on caring for animals and developing this career opportunity.
How to become a veterinarian is not a difficult question as it is becoming a very booming career for many all over the world. But, yes. There are many of us who still do not know what is the exact job of a veterinarian, what does this person practice and how to get the specialized and the required education needed to opt this field as a career. For such folks, here are some suggestions.
A veterinarian is the one who treats the illness, disease, infection and injury of an animal. The number of those people is increasing very high who want to keep a pet with them. With owning a pet, there are many other responsibilities as well that are to be fulfilled. Medical care for the animals is one such necessity and to fulfill these necessities, there are many veterinarians operating. They take good care of our animals, treat them of their illness and injury and help us to maintain the healthy life style of our pets. Many people or students who are yet to decide to an occupation and they have a tendency for this field, they can join it and become a veterinarian.
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Want to know more about Veterinarian? Check out How To Become A Veterinarian to get effective tips to become a Veterinarian. You may also review this links for more resources about How To Become A Pharmacist.
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