Are you the one who is likely to care about a street dog being beaten up?
Are you the one who offers milk to your regular visitor- the cat?
Are you the one who is likely to buy a bird and let it free?
Are you the one who requests a pet as a birthday present?
Are you the one who cries in movies like Finding Nemo because you can’t see him separated from his father?
Basically what I am asking is are you the one who loves animals and can’t let anything happen to them? Then maybe a Career as a Veterinary Doctor is for you!
But do you think empathy and love for animals are all it takes to become one? Definitely not!
Vets are usually disregarded as “doctors” since they are of no use to humans. However, that’s untrue. They undergo years of medical training just like a human doctor. So if you are planning to become a Veterinary doctor, go in with the expectation that it takes more than just empathy for animals to become one.
But how to become a Veterinary doctor, you ask? Read the blog further to know more about it- the education, skills, the colleges that offer the course, the salary insights and much more!
A veterinarian is a doctor who ensures the health and welfare of both people and animals. Animals that are ill or damaged are treated, and diseases are identified and controlled. They also give owners advice on how to take care of their animals and pets.
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Considering that it is a medical field, it is mandatory to pursue the science stream in your 11th and 12th grades. The PCB (Physics, Chemistry and Biology) combination is advisable. Additionally, this is also the time for you to start preparing for the NEET entrance test as the scores of this test will determine your admission to the undergraduate programs.
You can take a few online courses if you’re hesitant to determine whether a career as a veterinary doctor is suited for you. These programmes can help you pinpoint your preferences more quickly. You can enrol in these classes even after finishing the tenth grade since there are no requirements. Consider a handful of the following programmes:
| Certificate Courses | Institute offering the course | Duration |
| EDIVET: Do you have what it takes to be a Veterinarian? | The University of Edinburgh | 1-3 Months |
| Animal Behavior and Welfare | The University of Edinburgh | 1-3 Months |
| Dog Emotion and Cognition | Duke University | 1-3 Months |
| Pet Nutrition Diploma+ Bonus pet first aid manual | Udemy | 1.5 hours of content (self-paced) |
| The Truths about Dogs and Cats | The University of Edinburgh | 1-3 Months |
| Animals and Institutions | The University of Colorado | 1-4 Weeks |
| Birds 101: Introduction to Pet Birds | edX | 4 weeks (self-paced) |
| Dog Training: 50 Dog behaviour Issues and ways to fix them | Skillshare | 6 hours of content (self-paced) |
How to become a Veterinary doctor after 12th?
To become a veterinary doctor in India after 12th students must pursue undergraduate courses –
A) Undergraduate/ Diploma courses
Post you score sufficient marks in the NEET or the All India Pre Veterinary Test (AIPVT) exam you are eligible to take admissions for a bachelor’s degree in Veterinary Science in major universities and colleges in India. The two options available are:
| Undergraduate Course | Duration |
| Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech) in Poultry Technology/ Food Technology/ Dairy Technology | 4 Years |
| Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) in Animal Nutrition/ Veterinary Pathology/ Animal Genetics and Breeding/ Veterinary microbiology | 5.5 years |
After graduating with a degree in Veterinary Science, you have to further study an MD in Veterinary Science or its related specialization to become a certified Veterinary Doctor.
There are also certain diploma courses that you can pursue in order to increase your knowledge and get specialized training. Some of them that you can check out include:
| Diploma Course | Institute offering the course | Duration |
| Diploma in Veterinary Animal Health Worker | Singhania University, Rajasthan | 2 Years |
| Diploma in Live Stone and Veterinary Science | CMJ University, Shillong | 1 Year |
| Diploma in Veterinary Pharmacist | Abhilashi University, Mandi | 2 Years |
| Diploma in Veterinary Science and Animal Health Technology | Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Hisar | 2 Years |
| Diploma in Animal Husbandry | Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur | 2 Years |
B) Top Colleges
To become a Veterinary Doctor abroad
A) Undergraduate/Diploma courses
Some of the Undergraduate courses abroad for veterinary students include:
| Undergraduate Course | Estimated Duration |
| Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Bioscience | 3 Years |
| BVSc Veterinary Science | 5 Years |
| BSc (Agr) in PreVeterinary Medicine | 2 Years |
| Bachelor of Veterinary Biology and Doctor of Veterinary Medicine | 6 Years |
| Bachelor of Veterinary Technology | 3 Years |
| Bachelor of Veterinary Science (Honours) | 5 Years |
The duration and the name of these courses may vary depending on the college you apply to.
You can also pursue some diploma courses abroad.
| Diploma Courses | Institute offering the course | Duration |
| Diploma in Veterinary Technician | Georgian College | 2 Years |
| Associate Diploma in the Veterinary Technology | University of Guelph | 2 Years |
| Pet Care & Vet Assistant Diploma | International Career Institute | 24 weeks |
| Veterinary Technician | Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology | 2 Years |
| Pre-Veterinary Science | Teesside University | 1 Year |
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To finally be called a Veterinary doctor is a dream for many. It requires almost 6-8 Years of rigorous medical training. Most of the training that happens in the Bachelor’s and Master’s courses is enough for you to get a job as a Vet or you can open your own private practice. However, there are certain things that you can do to differentiate yourself from the crowd:
Internships are usually a part of the course curriculum to become a Veterinary doctor. A certain amount of hours are mandatory based on which lies the credibility of your degree. However, this usually happens in the last year of your graduation.
You can also take up some easy jobs like a receptionist at an animal clinic which could be a good exposure for you to gain a perspective on the industry in general.
After graduating from veterinary school, some students seek specialities in the field of veterinary medicine. Internal medicine, surgery, preventive medicine, pathology, behaviour, dentistry, nutrition, and toxicology are a few specialities. For certification in these programs, residency training is necessary. The learner must adhere to the conditions set forth by each specialist group in order to be certified by that organization.
Medical conferences and seminars are a great way to create connections within the industry. Additionally, you can also use social media platforms like LinkedIn and connect with people across the globe.
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A lot about the salary depends on where you work as a veterinary doctor- do you have a private practice or are you employed by a hospital? Additionally is it a government hospital or a private hospital? A lot of doctors are also employed at various places which ultimately determine their pay for the year. However, an entry-level veterinary doctor can expect to earn between 4-5 LPA, which definitely increases as one moves ahead in their career.
Scenario Abroad also remains the same. However, a general overview of their salary is provided below:
| Country | USA | Netherlands | Germany | Canada | UK | Australia | Switzerland |
| Entry-level salary per year | $50,750 | €49,908 | €21,456 | $70,000 | £27,200 | AU$42,000 | CHF 59’120 |
Thus, veterinary doctors are real doctors and have to go through a lot of emotional ups and down a day. They have to deliver the news of death to an owner while on the same afternoon having to meet a cute puppy, ultimately requiring a lot of resilience and empathy. Hence while deciding on a career as a Veterinary doctor, be prepared to do a lot of hard work. All the best!
Typically, becoming a veterinarian takes eight years. A B.V. Sc typically takes four years to complete. The DVM program normally takes four more years for veterinary candidates.
For veterinary, NEET is necessary.
For the General category, 350+ is the required score on the NEET to be admitted to a veterinary college.
You must enrol in college and earn a degree in veterinary science or medicine if you want to become a veterinarian. Normally, the program lasts five years. You must have a solid background in science to be considered for admission to vet school. It’s crucial that you excel in and like academic disciplines like biology, chemistry, and physics.
Veterinarians can do surgery on people in an emergency, and because they have studied comparative anatomy so extensively, it may even be safe.
Veterinarians serve as medical professionals for animals. They employ their abilities to assess patients, provide diagnoses, and provide treatment for a variety of illnesses.
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