What experiences do you need to become a veterinarian?

Answer 1

In the United States, you will need a combination of animal experience and veterinary experience to be accepted into vet school, which is a required step towards becoming a veterinarian. Animal experience is simply non-technical working with animals, which can be anything from raising livestock on your family farm to working with shelter animals. Veterinary experience is technical time spent either working with or observing/shadowing a trained veterinarian on the job; this often translates to working as a veterinary assistant part-time for several years.

Vets who want to practice in the UK must be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons. To get this far, they need to have done a veterinary degree at one of the RCVS approved establishments; a course that usually takes 5 years. Acceptance for entry to these universities varies, but candidates will probably need the following:

• Biology 'A' Level, as well as one or two from Physics, Chemistry and Maths.
• Grades at 'A' Level, two A's and a B, or, in some cases, three A's.
• Alternatively, a distinction in BTEC Diploma in Animal Science may be considered.

Answer 2

In the United States, you must have a large number of hours working with a trained veterinarian and another large number of hours working with animals in a non-veterinary role. Most veterinary schools won't accept applicants that haven't been around or worked with animals so you will want to apply or volunteer at your local veterinary hospital or shelter. You also need to spend time with a veterinarian seeing what the profession is. To apply, you will need to quantify your hours of animal (non-veterinary) experience, your hours of veterinary experience and have at least two (sometimes three) letters of recommendation from veterinarians.

Also, having experience as a leader, for instance of a church group or school club, also helps, as does public communication and customer service experience.

In order to practice veterinary medicine you will need to attend veterinary school and receive either a DVM (Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine) or a VMD (Veterinary Medical Doctor).