Veterinary Colleges: Jump-Start Your Veterinary Career
 Anyone aspiring to enter the field of veterinary medicine needs to receive
proper training and education from duly accredited veterinary colleges or
schools. The most common programs in this field are veterinary medicine and
veterinary technician/technologists. In order to become a veterinarian, you
must be able to complete a four-year course with a degree as Doctor of
Veterinary Medicine or DVM. For veterinary technicians, they will need to
complete a two-year Associate’s degree program, while veterinary
technologists are required to complete a four-year Bachelor’s degree course.
As of the current period, there are more than 100 accredited veterinary
technology programs offered in veterinary colleges in more than 40 states.
Accreditation of schools is the responsibility of the American Veterinary
Medical Association and they require that veterinary programs include
clinical and laboratory training using live animals. In this field, a solid
foundation in biological science and mathematics is crucial to an
individual’s successful completion of any educational program. Good language
and communication skills will also serve any student well and give him a
good edge too.
Besides formal training and education, veterinary technician/technologists
may be required to take a certification exam depending on the state. The
certification exam is usually regulated by the State Board of Veterinary
Examiners or other related state agency. This certification will serve as an
indication that the individual is truly competent in his work and proof that
he has received enough education and training to perform his duties and
responsibilities. For aspiring veterinarians, they will need to have both a
Doctor of Veterinarian Medicine degree and a state license in order to
practice their profession.
Entering veterinary colleges is not really very easy as it may seem.
Admission here is quite competitive and the ratio for accepted applicants is
around 1:3 in the year 2007. There are a few veterinary colleges that take
into consideration an applicant’s experience in veterinary activities and
animal handling. Those who have previously worked in veterinary clinics or
research facilities usually have the advantage here as they already have a
good foundation for their veterinary education. Also, prospective
veterinarians are first required to enroll in pre-veterinary science
subjects before admission.
Whether you want to take up a career as a veterinarian or a veterinary
technician/technologist, the place where you will acquire your education and
training will have lasting effects on your future. Therefore, choosing a
good veterinary college is a very crucial task – sufficient research and
thought is a must and not just picking any school that you can think of. You
might want to take into consideration some important factors such as the
location of the school, admission requirement and tuition fees, their
instructors and staff, and their course outlines as well. Generally
speaking, you might want to enroll in a veterinary college that is located
within your state of residence. Resident applicants are usually given
priority, and discounts are given on tuition fees as well. This will also
allow you to have an easier time to personally visit your prospective school
and check out how classes are carried out, meet instructors and staff, and
make personal inquiries about their educational programs as well.
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