Veterinarian - How to become a Veterinarian

A Veterinarian, sometimes known as a "Vet" in abbreviation, is a skilled medical practitioner who can diagnose, treat, and cure a wide range of ailments in birds and animals. They are renowned as veterinarians for both domestic and wild animals. There are many different sorts of veterinarians for animals, just as there are for humans; some deal with little animals, some with huge farm animals, and some with wild animals.

Although veterinarians train to treat all animals, they occasionally operate as specialists with a single species of animal. Other veterinarians specialize in a specific field of medicine, such as veterinary dermatologists, who care for animals who have skin disorders. Finally, some veterinarians do animal or human illness research.

If you wish to be a veterinarian, you must have true love and concern for animals. Because animals cannot communicate what they are experiencing, a qualified veterinarian must interpret the clues in the animal's behavior and diagnose the condition. Vets must also be able to manage crises and work in physically unpleasant settings, such as in rural locations where working hours are erratic and working conditions are unpleasant.

Working with huge animals demands physical stamina and rapid bodily responses to deal with the animal's temperamental behavior, as well as the ability to judge the animal's condition instinctively.

A veterinarian should be able to put animals at rest, work well in teams, and have capacities of observation and self-reliance, flexibility, and indifference to the occasionally unpleasant working environment. He must be very sensitive and patient.

As a result, being a veterinarian takes a great deal of hard work, devotion, and enthusiasm to sever the animal kingdom. Aside from that, the prospective vet should be a zealous disciplinarian with patience, devotion, and self-assurance. If you possess all of these abilities, you are qualified to be a veterinarian since the area is so dangerous that a moment's negligence on your part might result in the death of an innocent animal.

Eligibility to Become a Veterinarian

A 10+2 Class pass with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) as primary subjects and for institutions with at least 60% aggregate marks is required for admission to any of the above-mentioned programs.

To become a veterinarian one should possess any of the following degrees

• Bachelor's degree in Veterinary Science (B.V.Sc)
• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine and Surgery (BVMS)
• Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine (BVetMed)
• Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (B.V.Sc & AH)

How to Become a Veterinarian?

Step 1 - Complete an Undergraduate Degree (With Prerequisite Courses)

• Candidates that are interested must take an admission exam. Admission to most veterinary colleges is based on the results of the respective institutions' admission examinations.
• The Veterinary Council of India conducts an 'All India Common Entrance examination' (AIPVT) for admission to first-year Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) & Animal Husbandry (AH) degree courses. This Entrance exam is usually held in the month of May each year.

Step 2 - Complete the Internship

• For admission to the master’s degree program, an All India Entrance Examination is conducted by the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).
• After completing any of these 4 to 4-1/2 years of degree courses involving various disciplines, like Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Nutrition, Livestock Management and Production, Production Technology, Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Genetics and Breeding, Gynecology, Surgery, Medicine, and Animal Husbandry Extension, among others.
• They have to undergo three months internship usually at the Teaching Veterinary Clinical Service Complex (TVCSC) under the supervision of a senior clinician and infield veterinary hospitals on a rotation basis.
• Besides, they undergo a one-month practical training in livestock production and management at animal farms, then one-month training in poultry production and management, and one-month training in livestock products’ technology and other services. Apart from learning to treat animals, training is also provided in dairying and poultry sciences. 

Step 3 - Pursue a Postgraduate Degree

• After getting a bachelor's degree one can go for post-graduation, namely a Master's in Veterinary Science.
• The Postgraduate course in Veterinary Science (M.V.Sc.) is a 2-year course and the candidate has the option to specialize in areas like medicine, surgery, anatomy, bacteriology, biochemistry, cardiology, dermatology, microbiology, molecular biology, anesthesia, gynecology, pathology, toxicology, virology pharmacology, etc.

Step 4 - Gain Experience

Build your résumé with appropriate volunteer and employment experience before going to veterinary school. There are several ways to earn experience, such as:

• Participating in a pre-vet club
• Volunteering at homeless shelters
• Another one can look for a job in pet care centers or Vet hospitals.
• Observing veterans
• Any additional work-related encounters with animals

Step 5: Pursue a DVM Degree Further

• Once admitted into a veterinary school, you'll need to finish your four-year Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree.
• The first two years are often devoted to scientific classes including laboratories, while the third year is devoted to clinical experience.
• Clinical rotations are frequently included in your final year to provide you with hands-on experience.

Veterinarian Career Prospects and Job Opportunities

A veterinarian's employment includes not only caring for animals' health but also scientific breeding and livestock handling. Vets do surgery in addition to providing pharmaceutical or oral therapy, immunization, and guidance on pet and farm animal management.

Their job description also includes animal husbandry, which includes improving animal breeds through selection breeding' and artificial insemination, animal research to control the spread of diseases transmitted through animals, thus protecting the public from disease transmission, wildlife conservation, poultry management and health care, livestock insurance, and rural development.

A veterinary doctor, in a larger sense, plays an important role in the protection of livestock and domestic animal wealth.

Veterinarians will have a fairly broad scope in the near future.

According to recent data, owning pets is increasingly fashionable, and the need for private veterinarian clinics is increasing in both small villages and major cities. Unprecedented expansion in the poultry and animal products technology sectors has led to an increased need for veterinarians in various livestock and poultry industries.

Vets can pursue a variety of careers, ranging from private practice to food supply medicine and all in between.

Veterinarian Salary Prospects

Increased demand for veterinarians contributed to a significant increase in their pay. The highest-paying veterinary careers sometimes need three years of further training following vet school.

A vet's starting pay in the current market ranges from Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 30,000.

Private practice is also quite lucrative, and it only becomes better for candidates as they gain the confidence of the animal's owners.

Furthermore, the vet life isn't always glamorous. Working with animals, as you may be aware, is not always about caressing kittens and puppies. Vets must maintain their professionalism while getting their hands filthy and dealing with possibly agitated animals. Your love of animals should extend well beyond those that are easy to care for.

The veterinary profession is demanding yet gratifying, and it may be emotionally taxing. Volunteering and keeping your own animals can provide you with a strong understanding of the positive and negative elements of animal care.