Compiled by Nate Bodkin
Mrs. Arault
Veterinarian Assistant I

Personal Opinion
This is definitely a difficult career to embark upon. It requires years of difficult and expensive schooling, then long hours of work once you graduate. The conditions can be difficult and hazardous. However, I think the rewards offset all of this. Seeing smiles on people when they have healthy animals and the satisfaction of knowing my work resulted in those smiles, wagging tails and bright eyes makes all the hard work and tough stuff worthwhile.

Potential Earnings
Veterinarians can earn from $28,526 to more than $128,000 a year. In 2000, the middle 50 % earned between $47,020 and $84,220. Specialists earn the highest pay on average.
Job Outlook and Trends
Growth! According to the Occupational Outlook Handbook, this field is expected to grow faster than the average for all occupations through the year 2010. Most graduates gravitate toward small animals, where most growth is taking place. Jobs working with larger animals shouldn’t be difficult to find because so many gravitate toward small animal care and the demand for large animal care is increasing. Government jobs are small in number, and anticipated budget cuts will continue to limit the growth in this area. Veterinarians with training in public health and epidemiology will have the best opportunities for government work.

Finger Lakes Career & Technical Center

You're Smart to go to Boces

Finger Lakes Career & Technical Center

Life as a Veterinarian

Tel: 555 555 5555

Veterinarians are doctors for animals: they treat the sick and injured as well as give advice about care and breeding to owners.
Veterinarians may work exclusively with small animals, large animals or in a general practice. While most veterinarians work in private practices doing clinical work, there are opportunities to work in research to develop food or drugs to keep animals healthy. Others may research to protect humans from diseases carried by animals. There are also opportunities with the government to inspect livestock for disease.

The type of practice also makes a difference in working conditions and hours. Practices for small animals usually have offices and treatment rooms in urban areas. In group practices, vets usually take turn being on call for evening and weekend work.
Veterinarians specializing in large animals may have mobile clinics for treating animals in barns or open fields. They also spend time driving between their office and farms or ranches. They work outdoors in all kinds of weather and sometimes unsanitary conditions. Calls in the middle of the night are not uncommon.
Working with animals can be hazardous. Vets are at risk for being bitten, kicked or scratched by their patients. They must also be very careful when working with animals that may have diseases that are transmissible to humans and to avoid radiation when giving X-rays.
Skills Needed
Potential veterinarians must have good manual dexterity, and a strong affinity with and ability to work well with animals. Additionally, they should be strong in sciences, critical thinking, reading and decision making—especially in emergencies. Communication is key as well—they need to give their full attention to what people say, take time to understand, ask appropriate questions, not interrupt, and talk to owners so they can easily understand. Successful vets also understand the importance of continued learning in the field.
Education and Training
In preparation for veterinary school, it is suggested to have math and science courses in high school. The next step is two to four years of preveterinary or science studies at college. Veterinary schools require specific courses completed before they will consider you, and it varies from school to school, so you need to check on this for yourself. Additionally, you will need to submit test scores from the Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Veterinary College Admission Test (VCAT), or Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), depending on the preference of each college.
It takes four years of Veterinary school to graduate as a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (DVM). Working with a specific animal or specializing in an area such as surgery requires an additional one-year internship. To become a certified specialist a two or three-year residency is required.
All states require vets to be licensed before they can practice. This entails earning the DVM degree as well as passing the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE). Most states also require passing a jurisprudence exam which covers State laws and regulations. Forty-one states have continuing requirements for licensed veterinarians.

Job Description

A vet educates two new kitten owners

Work with personal pets is a large part of veterinarian medicine

Working Conditions and Hours
Most veterinarians work eight to ten hour days, often putting in 50 to 60 hours a week. Tasks include examining animals, making diagnoses, doing blood tests or X-rays, treating animals’ diseases or injuries, performing necessary surgery and vaccinations. Vets may need to help very old, sick or unwanted animals die in a relatively pain-free way. Additionally, vets work with owners, educating them about how to care for their animals as well as handle fears about a pet’s ailment.

Works Cited
www.bls.gov
www.careercruising.com
www.nyscareerzone.com

For More Information, Check Out:
www.avma.org
www.aavmc.org
http://veterinarylife.com
http://netvet.wustl.edu/vet.htm