The people who are in charge of the medical care of animals are known as veterinarians. These professionals love and care for animal well being. If you want to be a veterinarian, you are probably wondering how you can become one. Well, becoming a veterinarian requires having a specific education. Here is what it takes to become a veterinarian in the USA and Europe.
How to Become a Veterinarian in the USA
In order to become a veterinarian in the USA, you will be required to attend an undergraduate school. There are a number of veterinary colleges which require applicants to hold only 45 to 90 undergraduate hours. Most students, however, can enroll in a veterinary school with a bachelor’s degree. The undergraduate school has to offer biological and physical sciences, as well as, social science and communication.
Getting admitted to the veterinary school is quite challenging as there are only 30 veterinary schools accredited by the AVMA’s Council on Education. Hence, you will be required to undertake a college admissions test, such as GRE or Graduate Record Examination. In order to apply for a veterinary school, you will need to use the Veterinary Medical College Application Service.
Then, if you get admitted, you will need to complete four years of veterinary school to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or D.V.M. You will learn about basic science education in the classroom and laboratory during the first two years, while the remaining two years are a focus on clinical instruction.
Moreover, all veterinarians in the USA are required to obtain licensure from their state licensing board. The requirements depend on the state, but all boards require applicants to hold a D.V.M. and pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam. The exam consists of 360 multiple-choice questions and takes about 8 hours.
Moreover, if you want to gain a specialty of veterinary medicine, you can get certification through the AVMA American Board of Veterinary Specialties. In order to become eligible for the certification, you will need to complete 3 to 4 years of specialty training in an approved residency program.
How to Become a Veterinarian in Europe
Just like in the U.S, getting admitted to a veterinary school many western countries is extremely challenging. The main reason is that there is a lack of academic institutions which offer veterinary studies. The students are required to have high grades, but there is no guarantee that these efforts will eventually ensure their acceptance into veterinary studies.
Thus, many students have to give up their dream of becoming veterinarians. However, there are many other options for those who see themselves in the veterinary profession, such as veterinary faculties, which belong to prominent medical schools in Europe.
In order to get admitted to a veterinary school in Europe, you are required to have a high school diploma and written and oral entrance exams. The entrance exams focus on testing the students’ prior knowledge in biology, chemistry, physics, anatomy and physiology.