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The following is written by and according to the U.S. Department of Labor and particular to the education and training required for veterinarians.
Veterinarians must obtain a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree and a State license. There is keen competition for admission to veterinary school.
Education and training. Prospective veterinarians must graduate with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree from a 4-year program at an accredited college of veterinary medicine. There are 28 colleges in 26 States that meet accreditation standards set by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
The prerequisites for admission to veterinary programs vary. Many programs do not require a bachelor's degree for entrance, but all require a significant number of credit hours-ranging from 45 to 90 semester hours-at the undergraduate level. However, most of the students admitted have completed an undergraduate program and earned a bachelor's degree. Applicants without a degree face a difficult task gaining admittance.
Preveterinary courses should emphasize the sciences. Veterinary medical colleges typically require applicants to have taken classes in organic and inorganic chemistry, physics, biochemistry, general Biology, animal biology, animal nutrition, genetics, vertebrate embryology, cellular biology, microbiology, zoology, and systemic physiology. Some programs require calculus; some require only statistics, college algebra and trigonometry, or pre-calculus. Most veterinary medical colleges also require some courses in English or literature, other humanities, and the Social Sciences. Increasingly, courses in general business management and career development have become a standard part of the curriculum to teach new graduates how to effectively run a practice.
In addition to satisfying preveterinary course requirements, applicants must submit test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT), or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), depending on the preference of the college to which they are applying. Currently, 22 schools require the GRE, 4 require the VCAT, and 2 accept the MCAT.
There is keen competition for admission to veterinary school. The number of accredited veterinary colleges has remained largely the same since 1983, but the number of applicants has risen significantly. Only about 1 in 3 applicants was accepted in 2005.
New graduates with a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree may begin to practice veterinary medicine once they receive their license, but many new graduates choose to enter a 1-year internship. Interns receive a small salary but often find that their internship experience leads to better paying opportunities later, relative to those of other veterinarians. Veterinarians who then seek board certification also must complete a 3- to 4-year residency program that provides intensive training in one of the 20 AVMA-recognized veterinary specialties including internal medicine, oncology, pathology, dentistry, nutrition, radiology, surgery, dermatology, anesthesiology, neurology, cardiology, ophthalmology, preventive medicine, and exotic small-animal medicine.
Licensure. All States and the District of Columbia require that veterinarians be licensed before they can practice. The only exemptions are for veterinarians working for some Federal agencies and some State governments. Licensing is controlled by the States and is not strictly uniform, although all States require the successful completion of the D.V.M. degree-or equivalent education-and a passing grade on a national board examination, the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam. This 8-hour examination consists of 360 multiple-choice questions covering all aspects of veterinary medicine as well as visual materials designed to test diagnostic skills.
The Educational Commission for Foreign Veterinary Graduates grants certification to individuals trained outside the United States who demonstrate that they meet specified requirements for English language and clinical proficiency. This certification fulfills the educational requirement for licensure in all States.
Most States also require candidates to pass a State jurisprudence examination covering State laws and regulations. Some States do additional testing on clinical competency as well. There are few reciprocal agreements between States, veterinarians who wish to practice in a different State usually must first pass that State's examinations.
Other qualifications. When deciding whom to admit, some veterinary medical colleges place heavy consideration on a candidate's veterinary and animal experience. Formal experience, such as work with veterinarians or scientists in clinics, agribusiness, research, or some area of health science, is particularly advantageous. Less formal experience, such as working with animals on a farm or ranch or at a stable or animal shelter, also can be helpful. Students must demonstrate ambition and an eagerness to work with animals.
Prospective veterinarians must have good manual dexterity. They should have an affinity for animals and the ability to get along with their owners, especially pet owners, who usually have strong bonds with their pets. Veterinarians who intend to go into private practice should possess excellent communication and business skills, because they will need to manage their practice and employees successfully and to promote, market, and sell their services.
Advancement. Most veterinarians begin as employees in established group practices. Despite the substantial financial investment in equipment, office space, and staff, many veterinarians with experience eventually set up their own practice or purchase an established one.
Newly trained veterinarians can become U.S. Government meat and poultry inspectors, disease-control workers, animal welfare and safety workers, epidemiologists, research assistants, or commissioned officers in the U.S. Public Health Service or various branches of the U.S. Armed Forces. A State license may be required.
Nearly all States have continuing education requirements for licensed veterinarians. Requirements differ by State and may involve attending a class or otherwise demonstrating knowledge of recent medical and veterinary advances.
For the source and more detailed information concerning your request, click on the related links section (U.S. Department of Labor) indicated directly below this answer section.
Wiki User
∙ 14y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoIn the United States, you need to complete high school (diploma or GED), then complete 3-4 years of undergraduate courses (physics, microbiology, biochemistry, etc.), then complete 4 years of veterinary school.
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Is becoming a veterinary assistant hard?
Veterinary assisting is an entry-level position in a veterinary facility. There are no legal requirements for education, training or certification. Most veterinary assistants are hired and trained on the job with little or no prior experience.
Why do veterinary assistants earn so little?
Because veterinary assistants are in an entry-level position (in the US) and are not required to have any specialized education or training in veteirnary medicine or veterinary technology. Veterinary assistants generally come to the job with no prior experience, training or experience at all and are trained on the job.
What education and training is required become a veterinary assistant?
No state in the US has educational or training requirements for a veterinary assistant. This is an entry-level position for veterinary staff and training is generally done on the job. There are some schools that offer veterinary assisting programs and "certify" their students however many of these are not overseen by an veterinary professionals or professional organizations and are often taught by people with no education or experience in the veterinary field. For people interested in enrolling in a veterinary assisting program, a wise choice would be to select programs offered by colleges that also offer an American Veterinary Medical Association accredited veterinary technology program or a veterinary assisting program that has been designed or approved by a veterinary professional association.
Where do veterinarian professionals get their education and training?
Veterinarians are generally trained and educated at specialized Schools of Veterinary Medicine.
How many years in college to be a vet assistant?
Veterinary assisting is an entry-level position and special education, training or certification is typically not required. There are veterinary assistant training programs and the time required to complete them ranges from a few weeks to a year. However, many of these programs are not viewed as respectable by veterinarians. If special training is sought, veterinary assisting programs offered through a college with an AVMA accredited veterinary technology program or that is approved by a veterinary medical or veterinary technician association should be selected.
Can you get a license from the state board to practice as a vet assistant?
No, veterinary assistants are not licensed professionals in any state in the US. In fact, no state requires any level of education or training for veterinary assistants. This is an entry-level position in a veterinary facility and training is usually done on-the-job. There are courses offered at high schools and many "institutes of higher learning" to certify veterinary assistants but the quality of the education/training may vary greatly. This is because many programs are taught by instructors who have no veterinary medical background. If a person wishes to take a course or courses in veterinary assisting, choosing a program that is taught by a veterinary professional, approved by a veterinary medical association or offered by a college that also offers an American Veterinary Medical Association accredited veterinary technology program would be a good idea. Veterinary assistant courses are basic vocational training courses will not prepare you to sit for the credentialing exams to become a veterinary technician in any state. Certification of veterinary assistants is also no legally recognized in any state.
What education or training do you need to become a veterinarian assistant?
You should take some biology, chemistry, zoology or veterinary medicine
Can you get veterinary assistant training at a community college in Lawrenceville?
Animal Health Technology, Vet Assistant Colleges - Education Reference
What classes do I need to take to become a veterinary assistant ?
You can take high school courses such as small animal care and office management. The best way is to go to training courses at your local veterinary. The best training is the one you get as a volunteer. Assuming you live in the United States, there are no requirements for education or training to work as a veterinary assistant. This is an entry-level position and training is usually done on the job. There are courses available for veterinary technicians and liscenced veterinarians, which might be useful in advancing your career.
What eduction and training is required to become a veterinary assistant?
No state in the US has educational or training requirements for a veterinary assistant. This is an entry-level position for veterinary staff and training is generally done on the job. There are some schools that offer veterinary assisting programs and "certify" their students however many of these are not overseen by an veterinary professionals or professional organizations and are often taught by people with no education or experience in the veterinary field. For people interested in enrolling in a veterinary assisting program, a wise choice would be to select programs offered by colleges that also offer an American Veterinary Medical Association accredited veterinary technology program or a veterinary assisting program that has been designed or approved by a veterinary professional association.
What is the education cost for a veterinary assistant?
There are no special education or training requirements for a veterinary assistant in any state in the US. This is an entry level position in the veterinary medical field and training is generally done on the job. There are voluntary educational opportunities, however these are not equivalent to a college degree program and are instead basic vocational training. There is no over-sight by a professional body to ensure that the majority of these programs provide adequate or correct information. There is no requirement for hands-on training and instructors often have little or no experience or education in the veterinary field. There are a handful of certification programs that are designed and approved by veterinary professional organizations or that are offered by colleges which also offer accredited veteirnary technology programs and these are better choices for someone who wants to be a veterinary assistant. The cost for these voluntary programs varies depending on what group, company or educational facility is offering the program.
How many years of college to become a veterinarian's assistant?
Veterinary assisting is an entry-level position and there is no general requirement for certification or education. There are voluntary education programs for veterinary assistants that range from a few weeks to a year, but the value of these is variable and most veterinary employers train their assistants on the job.
