Did you know that veterinarians make an average of more than $95,000 a year in the United States?
Veterinarians help treat and diagnose diseases and disorders in non-human animals.
If you are interested in becoming a vet to help animals, there are a couple of steps to be aware of.
Continue reading to discover all of the steps it takes to become a veterinarian so that you know what to expect!
Know What You Want
The most important thing to decide when becoming a veterinarian is to know what you want.
Do you want to help animals? Do you love animals and just want to work with them every day? There are many reasons to choosing this career and it is helpful to know why you are.
Understanding why you want to become a vet can help guide you through the process and encourage you as you hit setbacks along the way.
Go to College
To become a veterinarian, you must attend medical school and attend a 4-year undergraduate program.
There are many requirements to becoming a vet that you will learn about in undergraduate school. Your professors will be able to teach you the most important factors and basic things like math and science.
Talk to an academic advisor to learn about your requirements to become certified. They will be able to provide you with resources and information about the career.
Gain Experience
If you want to get ahead in the field, consider getting a part-time job at a local vet or animal clinic to gain experience.
This is a good way to dip your feet in the water and determine if the career will be a good fit for you. Not only will you be exposed to your future job, but you will learn the basics of the career before jumping in too far.
Gain as much experience as you can while you are finishing undergrad and graduate school. This will reflect well on you for potential employers and help prepare you for the job.
While gaining experience, try to learn about veterinary cleaning products to keep yourself and the furry ones safe!
Apply to Veterinary Schools
Applying to veterinary schools can become overwhelming but there are things you can do to make it easier.
You will interview for vet school and once you start receiving acceptance letters, you can choose your favorite school. The veterinary graduate school typically lasts 4 years and is filled with a lot of crucial information.
Take the NAVLE
While in veterinary school you will need to start preparing for the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE).
This is the most important exam that you will take in your career. It gives you the ability to work as a legal vet and will prepare you for the job. Practice as much as you can for the test ahead of time, you will need to have a good understanding of each concept.
Start Your Path to Become a Veterinarian
There are many reasons to become a veterinarian, making it easy to work your way through the list of requirements.
Once you have decided that working with animals is your passion, you can go to school and get your undergraduate degree. From there, you will have to go to graduate school and obtain experience.
Don’t get discouraged when you have difficult courses, this career is rewarding and worth it.
Be sure to check out our blog for more articles about a veterinary career and how to get a veterinary degree!