Veterinarian

Veterinarians care for the health of various animals, ranging from livestock and zoo animals to pets, and even lab animals. Some work to protect humans from animal-borne disease. Veterinarians have played a vital role in conquering animal-borne human diseases, such as malaria, yellow fever, botulism.

Veterinarians must be able to work under pressure and make life-or-death decisions quickly. Their manual dexterity has to be first rate, Veterinarians need a good bedside manner, self-motivation, and a strong desire to help others. Those who open their own practice must have good business sense. The most important qualification, however, is a love of working with animals and empathy with pet owners.

Education and Credentials Required
Veterinarians must complete four years of veterinary medicine and earning their Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) at an accredited school. They must then obtain a license to practice. Veterinary schools don’t require a pre-veterinary degree, but do require somewhere between 45 and 90 credit hours. You must take the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), the Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT), or the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT) to be admitted to veterinary school, depending on the program.

Graduates then must pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) and also pass a State jurisprudence examination for the state they intend to practice in, and then renew their license and take continuing education courses on an ongoing basis.

Future Prospects
Employment opportunities for veterinarians are expected to rise outpace the average. Doting pet owners are willing to invest in the latest animal healthcare techniques. Demand will outpace supply as the schools are not turning out more graduates to match demand.

Salary Range
The median salary, as of 2002, for veterinarians was $63,090. Self-employed Veterinarians can expect to earn significantly more than salaried Veterinarians. Experience, location, skill, reputation, hours worked and other factors impact income. Self-employed veterinarians pay for their own health benefits and retirement.