Having a love for animals is a very helpful trait for someone entering the veterinarian field. However, like any other advocation that one wants to make their vocation, it requires specific training and education. After all, animals that a vet may encounter on a regular basis can range in species (mammals, reptiles, birds, amphibians, etc.), and so their needs may greatly vary.
In this article we answer the following questions: 1ºwhat education is needed to become a vet 2º Steps to Becoming Licensed as a Vet 3º How to Become a Veterinarian.
The Pennsylvania State University’s Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences has a piece on its website entitled “Steps to Becoming a Veterinarian.”
While the logical first question to ask would seem to be “What degree do you need to be a veterinarian,” according to the piece, preparation for becoming a veterinarian begins long before college. Students should begin during middle and high school by taking “all the mathematics, chemistry, biology, and physics courses” possible.
Since becoming a veterinarian starts long before college, let’s take a moment and explore the requirements of specific areas of the field:
Front Range Community College’s website (https://www.frontrange.edu/programs-and-courses/a-z-program-list/veterinary-technology) explains that in order to become a vet tech, a student must earn a Veterinary Technician degree (A.A.S.) and that topics covered in their training range from radiology and parasitology to medical and surgical nursing.
Norwalk Community College offers a certificate program to become a veterinary assistant. In order to earn the certificate, students must successfully complete five courses: Veterinary Assisting I: Medical Office Assistant, Veterinary Assisting II, Veterinary Assisting III, Veterinary Assisting IV – Dental & Surgical Assisting, and Veterinary Clinical Assisting (https://norwalk.edu/extended-studies/)
As part of their College of Veterinary Medicine, Purdue University offers a Bachelor of Science in Veterinary Nursing, as well as an associate degree option. According to their website (https://www.purdue.edu/vet/nursing/index.php?_ga=2.179209508.1222317189.1584125452-99319215.1581430152) Veterinary nurses can serve in a number of capacities including anesthetists, surgery technicians and dental hygienists.
Although the majority of this article is about becoming a veterinarian in the United States, let’s take moment to briefly explore veterinary medicine in the U.S.’s neighbor to the north. St. George’s University’s Veterinary Medical Blog, The SGU Plus, has a post entitled “How to Become a Vet in Canada: Your Ultimate Outline” that explores this topic. The post encourages pursuing a 4-year bachelor’s degree and specifically a four-year science degree for a strong educational foundation. The path to becoming a vet in Canada also includes hands-on experience working with animals under the supervision of a veterinarian, earning a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM) degree, and obtaining the required Certificate of Qualification (CQ). To read the full post, visit https://www.sgu.edu/blog/veterinary/how-to-become-a-vet-in-canada/
When a student becomes an undergraduate, the Pennsylvania State University’s Department of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences’ piece recommends pursuing a degree that will give him or her “a strong grounding in the biological and physical sciences.” The website goes on to recommend courses with lab work in areas like general and organic chemistry, biochemistry, molecular and cell biology, physics, algebra, trigonometry, calculus, and trigonometry. Courses like this are essential to getting into veterinary school.
Specific “Essential College Criteria” that the piece recommends includes:
~ A competitive GPA
~ Animal and Clinical Experience
~ GREs (and sometimes MCAT)
~ 3 Letters of Recommendation from academic adviser, a veterinarian and a person of the student’s choosing (respectively)
~ Leadership and communication skills (such as working on a committee); and co-curricular activities (such a Pre-Vet club)
Like other medical professions, becoming a veterinarian requires additional years of education. According to the website “Veterinary Medical Education in the U.S. is 4 years beyond undergraduate degree” at which time a student will receive their D.V.M. (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) or V.M.D. (Veterinariae Medicinae Doctoris) degree.
The final step to becoming a veterinarian is to take the North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE). It is also important to keep in mind that each state is different when it comes to licensing requirements and procedures. With this in mind, the piece offers links for further information about veterinary medicine:
~ American Veterinary Medical Association
~ Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges
~ Veterinary Medical College Application Service
~ American Pre Veterinary Medical Association
~ Graduate Record Examinations
To read the entire piece, visit https://vbs.psu.edu/students/steps-to-becoming-a-veterinarian
Place your job ad in our classified page on the HO print & digital Edition
