Many children from the time they can read dream of becoming a Vet, and it is becoming an increasingly popular area of study for young people. There are many steps involved to becoming a Vet and it is an intensive career that doesn’t suit everyone. Here is our breakdown of the qualifications and qualities that you will need to become a Vet:
Qualifications
To become a Vet, you will need to train at University to get a Veterinary Degree, the courses of which are usually 5-6 years.
Only a handful of Universities in the UK offer approved veterinary degrees, including: Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Liverpool, London (Royal Veterinary College) and Nottingham. However, you can go abroad to study as well.
The qualifications vary slightly from university to university but usually to qualify for veterinary courses at A level you need to do Biology and one or two subjects including Chemistry, Physics or Mathematics. Minimum grades are normally two As and a B or 3 As. To see more specific instructions on different courses, take a look here.
Once you get your veterinary degree you can go into further study and specialization, general practice, veterinary teaching and research, government, military, to name a few.
Qualities
Being a veterinarian can be incredibly rewarding but very demanding, so becoming a vet is more than just getting a degree, you also need to have certain personality traits and strengths to truly succeed.
Compassion, patience and communication are key qualities to ensure that pets get the best care possible and you can run your practice smoothly. You must also be confident and decisive so that you can make effective decisions no matter the situation.
Resilience and dedication are also essential qualities as this is a high-pressure job and you have to be ready to deal with emergencies at any time and the personal time it may take up in your week. Respect is also paramount, not just for others but yourself as well.
Vitally, you must have integrity, honesty and trustfulness to ensure that you do the right thing and gain the confidence of your patients and their owners. Last but not least, self-awareness is a very important quality for a vet to ensure that you are learning from your mistakes and always improving.