In general, undertaking internships or volunteer positions to gain practical experience in the summer can bolster your credentials. Summer is also a great time to explore student and professional veterinary organizations and associations.
Across the United States, veterinarian salaries very widely based on factors that include state and city cost of living, types of veterinarian clinics or private practice, and personal experience in the field. Experience also impacts earnings. The BLS has compiled data for every state, including salaries, numbers of veterinarians, and job projections Where are the best, and worst, states to find a veterinarian job?
The percentage of new veterinarian jobs predicted also varies — sometimes dramatically — from state to state. The BLS predicts the highest percentage of veterinarian job growth for the decade is expected in Arizona, States where the fewest percentage of new jobs are anticipated include West Virginia, a net loss of 3. The states with the greatest number of working veterinarians include California, 6, veterinarians; Florida, 4,; North Carolina, 2,; Ohio, 2,; Michigan, 2,; Maryland, 1,; Massachusetts, 1,; Minnesota, 1,; and Pennsylvania, 2, The BLS predicts that employment growth in the veterinary service industries will be spurred by the increasing number of consumers who depend on pet care.
The rise of specializations and services among veterinarians will also drive increases in hiring, depending on the community where pet owners seek advanced care and treatment to extend the lives of their animals. Discovering the ideal program that prepares students for careers in veterinary medicine can be time consuming. Some key factors worth considering are the credentials of faculty members and where the school is located. Here are some other questions to ask: Is the school accredited?
How long will it take to complete your DVM? Is your preferred specialization offered at the school? Does the program offer online components that can reduce commuting time or free you for work in an existing job or volunteer position? Is there a student counseling or job placement service? Does the program provide appropriate academic training to prepare for state and federal licensing examinations? Check with the school for graduation rates. Finally, is there financial aid available?
The following tool can dramatically streamline your search. It returns results including the state, the school name, and degrees that the institution offers. Students are encouraged to investigate and join professional associations that advocate for veterinarians, their common interests, and that support research in the field. The benefits are legion.
An association can provide mentors and practitioners for career networking, employment strategies, the latest job alerts, advancements in the profession, and evidence-based clinical techniques. Here are several to consider as you grow into the field:. American Veterinary Medical Association.
The International Council for Veterinary Assessment. The AAVMC advocates for schools and institutions that prepare students for their veterinary careers, representing more than 30 U. Site includes a listing of veterinary colleges, sorted by state.
Founded in , the AAEP represents more than 9, veterinarians and students who are dedicated to the care of horse breeds. The organization has a job board and advocates for ethical standards, education, and professional development. It provides research and scientific information along with insight into career development for educators and animal scientists.
Its website offers information on foreign exchange programs, networking with practitioners, scholarships, training events, and international symposia. The VBMA assists veterinarians and students in the development of key skills in networking, personal management, knowledge of student loans, finance, communication, and business operations.
Veterinary medical school takes four years to complete. Veterinarians must be licensed in the state in which they want to practice. To earn their license, veterinarians take a national exam assessing their knowledge of veterinary practices. Some states require an additional exam on that state's specific laws and regulations regarding animal care in addition to the national exam.
Some veterinarians choose to complete an internship with a seasoned veterinarian to gain hands-on experience before opening their own practice or practicing independently. An internship is not required to become a veterinarian, but many vets choose to do it. Veterinary internships usually last one year.
Board certification is a designation given to highly specialized and knowledgeable veterinarians. Board certification involves mastery in a specialization like surgery or anesthesia and the completion of an exam demonstrating excellence. Board certification is not required to become a veterinarian, but it can be an excellent way to earn more money or find a fantastic position. Related: Learn About Being a Veterinarian. While veterinarians are best known for treating household pets in private practices, veterinarians can work in a variety of settings and with all sorts of animals.
Here are a few of the work environments and accompanying job duties for veterinarians:. This is due to advances in veterinary medicine over recent years. Veterinarians are capable of addressing challenging illnesses like cancer and kidney disease in ways they were not able to previously. Additionally, pet owners are willing to spend more time and money on medicine and treatment for ill pets than they have been in the past. The actual salary for veterinarians depends on factors like education, training, certifications, specialty and geographical location.
Veterinarians with more experience and education can expect to make more than the average while those who recently finished veterinary medical school can expect to make less than the average. If you enjoy working with animals and providing care, there are a variety of jobs for you to consider.
Here are some jobs similar to a veterinarian:. Veterinary surgeon. Wildlife rehabilitator. Animal trainer. Marine biologist. Animal nutritionist.
Veterinary assistant. Animal caretaker. Animal control officer. State laws require that you take and pass a licensing examination created by organizations such as the National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners. There are multiple choice questions on the examination. The maximum amount of time you have to finish the test is 7. Areas covered on the test include analyzing injuries, treating diseases, laboratory procedures and diagnostic imaging.
Additionally, some states require you to take and pass separate licensing examinations. To stay abreast of changes in the field, many veterinarians continue their educations by studying for certification examinations offered by organizations like the American Veterinary Medical Association and the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners.
Certification examinations are offered in areas such as surgery, food animal practice and internal medicine. Rhonda Campbell is an entrepreneur, radio host and author.
She has more than 17 years of business, human resources and project management experience and decades of book, newspaper, magazine, radio and business writing experience.
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