Vet

Vets diagnose and treat sick and injured animals.

Also known as: Veterinary surgeon, veterinarian

• Starter salary£32,000 a year
• Experienced£65,000 a year
• Typical hours40 to 45 a week

What you'll do

As a vet, you could:

• diagnose and treat sick and injured animals
• perform operations
• carry out blood analyses, X-rays and scans
• provide care for animals in veterinary hospitals
• carry out regular health checks and give vaccinations
• check farm animals and advise on how to stop the spread of disease
• keep records of treatments
• communicate with pet owners and insurers
• put severely injured or terminally ill animals to sleep
• do research into animal medicines and diseases
• supervise veterinary nurses and support staff

Working environment

You could work at a veterinary practice, in remote rural areas or in a laboratory.

Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and outdoors some of the time.

You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.

Skills and knowledge you'll need

You'll need:

• knowledge of animal medicine and dentistry
• knowledge of biology
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• customer service skills
• excellent verbal communication skills
• the ability to work well with your hands
• the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages confidently

How to become a vet

You can get into this job through a university course.

University

You'll need to complete a veterinary degree approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) .

Entry to courses is highly competitive. For this reason the selection process is very thorough. You can expect to be interviewed and to take screening tests at most universities.

You'll need to show:

• you are able to meet the academic requirements of the course
• you understand what the role involves
• you are highly motivated
• you have done some relevant work experience

Many universities offer a foundation year, which prepares you for the veterinary degree course.

You can find out more about studying veterinary science from UCAS .

Full-time veterinary degrees usually take 5 to 6 years.

If you already have a degree in a related subject, for example, biomedical sciences, you may be able to take a 4-year graduate entry veterinary degree course.

You can also apply to join the Army Medical Service while completing your degree at university. On selection, you would receive further training to become a veterinary officer in the army.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

• 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
• 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry

Volunteering

You'll need to get experience of working with animals, which will help when applying for courses.

You can contact:

• veterinary practices
• local animal welfare centres
• animal charities, like the PDSA or RSPCA
• local dairy and livestock farms
• riding stables

Restrictions and requirements

You'll need to:

• pass enhanced background checks

You may need a driving licence for some jobs, for example in rural areas.

Career path and progression

As your career develops, you could focus on treating particular animals, such as horses, pets or livestock.

You might also study for a postgraduate qualification, like the Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice , with provides options to specialise.

You could also move into a career in research, teaching or conservation.

Career tips

You can explore veterinary science through virtual work experience with Futurelearn .

Professional and industry bodies

You could join the British Veterinary Association and British Small Animals Veterinary Association for professional development and networking opportunities.

You could also join the British Equine Veterinary Association if you work with horses.

Registration

• you'll need to register with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons

Guides for this industry

• Animal Care: pay, interviews and getting started →

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