Career as a Doctor: Veterinarian
Medical science and the use of medicines is not restricted to human use only and ranges over the horizon only to find helpful to animals too. Veterinarians are doctors who take care of sick and injured pets. These doctors are most commonly seen in zoos and rehabilitation centers where animals need special care. On the other hand, vets also treat domestic animals from various infections and diseases.
The scope of this profession is increasing day-by-day as many animals are seriously affected by adversaries related to global warming. You can take veterinarian as a career as this is related to medical field and helps animals. However, there are some requirements to be fulfilled in order to take this profession as your career; they include-
Requirements: There are quite a few colleges which offer veterinary courses and hence getting admission in such accredited institutions is quite difficult. In order to become a vet, one should complete 4 year undergraduate course and then apply for veterinary school where subjects like biology, chemistry, physics, nutrition, anatomy, physiology, zoology, microbiology and animal science are taught for 4 years. After completion of the course, a degree- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M) is awarded. The journey of becoming an animal doctor doesn't stop here; a state license is required to start practice. On the other hand, many people study further to gain more education, training and work experience. Different specialist certificates are also awarded by The American Veterinary Medical Association which may include surgery, microbiology, etc. As emergencies can arise anytime, working hours of veterinaries are long. It is found that 1 in every 4 vet works for more than 50 hours a week. The responsibilities of animal doctor include examining animal wounds and diseases, operating wounds if necessary, vaccinating animals, medicating if necessary and so on.
Payment: As this is not one of the common occupations, wages related to this field is on a higher side. Bureau of Labor Statistics, in their May 2011 report stated that the average annual salary of veterinarians in USA was about $91,250. The same report stated that, in Missouri the average annual salary is about $75,720 with around 960 veterinary doctors in business. Job prospectus for vets is increasing year-by-year; by 2020 the growth of this occupation would be around 36% which is much faster than average growth rate.
To become a vet doctor, degree in Veterinary Medicine is essential which is offered by very few colleges/ universities. In Missouri this specific course and related subjects are taught only in University of Missouri- Columbia.
With above average job opportunities in coming years and higher income possibility, career as veterinary doctor will surely be of utmost success.