How to Become a Veterinarian
A veterinarian is a medical professional who diagnoses, treats, and prevents diseases in animals. They provide care through surgeries, medications, and vaccinations, ensuring the health and well-being of pets, livestock, and wildlife.
A Day In The Life
If you were a Veterinarian, you’d spend your day…
Diagnosing and treating animals, including surgeries and administering treatments
Advising pet owners on care, nutrition and vaccinations
Maintaining records and collaborating with other specialists
Wanna see a veterinarian in action? Check out this video!
Is This Career Right for Me?
According to the Holland Codes, people in this career generally possess the following traits:
Challenges & Skills
No job is easy, but if you’ve got the right skills, you’ll be ready to handle anything that comes your way!
Challenges & Skills Needed to Overcome Them
Handling difficult or aggressive animals
Skills: Patience, calm demeanour and animal behaviour knowledge
Dealing with emotional pet owners
Skills: Empathy, communication and conflict resolution
Managing a high workload and time pressure
Skills: Time management, organisation and stress management
Staying updated with new veterinary practices
Skills: Continuous learning, research skills and adaptability
Performing complex surgeries or treatments
Skills: Surgical expertise, attention to detail and manual dexterity
Sound like you? Then you might just have what it takes to tackle these challenges and thrive as a Veterinarian!
Career Pathway
Thinking long term? This career path shows you how you can grow your role (and salary!) in the world of health care.
With every step, you’ll gain more skills, responsibility and opportunities. If you’re passionate about medicine, health & sciences, this career path could be your perfect match!
Global Opportunities
Pros in this field are in demand everywhere—your career could literally take you places!
Top countries hiring professionals in this field:
United States
The large and diverse animal population in the U.S. creates a continuous need for veterinarians across various sectors.
Canada
Canada offers initiatives to address veterinarian shortages, especially in remote and rural areas.
Australia
Australia’s high rate of pet ownership and significant agricultural industry drive a consistent demand for veterinary professionals.
We hope this guide has helped you understand what to expect and inspired you to explore a path that fits your strengths and passions. Good luck—and have fun discovering your future!
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