A veterinary doctor aids animals in recovering from wounds, controlling medical disorders, or preserving general health. These professionals, who are also known as veterinarians or vets, frequently feel honored by their professions because they are enhancing an animal’s quality of life, which is largely ignored by society at large. A job as a veterinarian might appeal to you if you like science and spending time with animals.
Eligibility Criteria
To embark on a veterinary career, aspiring students must pursue a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) and animal husbandry degree. Admission to reputable veterinary colleges is through national and state-level entrance exams. The most common exams include NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) and AIPVT (All India Pre-Veterinary Test). Additionally, some states may have their own entrance exams.
The fees per year for this course vary from Rs. 40,000 to 1.5 lakhs per year, based on the college you choose. Government colleges have a relatively lower fee structure, along with a scholarship programme based on various criteria, ensuring that all deserving candidates get the opportunity to choose this course.
During the BVSc programme, aspiring veterinarians gain practical experience through internships and clinical rotations. This hands-on training helps develop essential skills and exposes students to various aspects of veterinary medicine. It is crucial to actively participate in these opportunities to build a strong foundation.
After completing the BVSc programme, students can pursue higher studies in various fields of veterinary science. To get into the Master of Veterinary Science (MVSc) programme, they need to appear for competitive entrance exams conducted by respective universities or institutes. Appearing for exams like ICAR is necessary for going for MVSc. Earning a specialisation not only enhances expertise but also opens doors to advanced research and academic roles.
To enter the research and academia domain, aspiring veterinarians can pursue doctoral programmes (PhD) in various veterinary disciplines. Admissions to PhD programmes are typically based on entrance exams, interviews, and academic qualifications. Additionally, there are a few exams like JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) that could help you get Fellowship grants for your thesis or during the curriculum.
Career Opportunities
Clinical Practice
Clinical practice is one of the most traditional and sought-after career paths in the veterinary field. As a practicing veterinarian, you will work directly with animals, diagnosing and treating a wide range of health issues. In rural areas, clinicians have to deal with more livestock rather than small animals and earn enough to sustain themselves and earn profits. In urban areas where mostly small animals are dealt with, successful clinicians earn enough to sustain themselves and their practice, and their clinic earnings help them expand and open branches in different areas as well.
For those interested in government jobs, applying to Central government services like the Army, CRPF, and BSF, or to state government services like Animal Husbandry Departments, Department of Animal Welfare, and Municipal Corporations is essential. Government job opportunities often require candidates to appear for specific competitive exams conducted by the respective departments in different states, or at the national level.
Joining the Pet Care Industry
For a career in the pet care industry, fresh graduates can explore opportunities in pet food companies where they actively seek and welcome new talent to join their team. Besides pet food companies, another viable option lies in the Pharmaceutical sector, which also presents various entry-level roles.
The starting salaries should not be overestimated, but the growth and salary hike is exponential and extremely rapid in these sectors, providing a rewarding and fulfilling career path for dedicated individuals.
Wildlife Conservation, NGO, and Animal Welfare
For wildlife and conservation-related roles, graduates can seek internships or volunteer positions in wildlife rehabilitation centres, zoos, or conservation organisations. To work with animal welfare NGOs, fresh graduates can apply directly or get involved through volunteer work. There is a plethora of organisations that would always love to have more hands on deck, like WVS (Worldwide Veterinary Services), PFA (People for Animals), to name a few. You can apply to work with them through their online portals or by going for educational internships that they regularly conduct and converting that to a full time role. This experience displays dedication and commitment to animal welfare causes.
— Written by Dr Shivangi Raina, Product Executive Manager Drools
Explore other career options with us: Sound Designing, Sound Engineering | Sustainability Professional | Yoga & Naturopathy | Software Testing | Medical Coding | Cloud Developer & Cloud Architect | 3D Technology | Garment Technologist |AI & Robotics |Fashion Designing |Supply Chain Finance |Animal Welfare | Public Relations | Gaming Industry | Functional Nutrition | Market Research Analyst | Forensic Scientist | Pilot | Law | Business Analytics |
Comments
0 comment