The medical profession is one of the most respectful and delightful career paths in India. And there are two ways you can get into it: by being a Human Doctor or by being a Veterinary Doctor. A Veterinary doctor is a medical individual who treats animals. Individuals interested in both animals and science choose this way of welfare, which brings both a rising career and an opportunity to work for the betterment of animal health and well-being.
If you’re aspiring to become a Veterinary Doctor after 12th, then you’re on the right place. Even though there has been always a high requirement of Veterinary Doctors in India, the increased culture of having pets and families striving to provide the best facilities and care to them has also impacted with an increase in the Veterinary doctors’ requirement.
Below exclusive guide will help you understand more about this career path and the entire procedure to become veterinary doctor.
This article includes eligibility, scope and future career growth to become a Veterinary doctor.
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Who is a Veterinary Doctor, and what is Veterinary Science?
A Veterinary Doctor, also known as a “Vet” or “Veterinarian,” is basically an animal doctor who diagnoses, treats, and cures several types of diseases found in animals, birds, and reptiles. Like several human doctors are classified into their dedicated work duties, Veterinarians also have their designated job roles where some of them serve as a Vet physician. In contrast, others are trained to perform operations as well.
Depending upon their job role, they can be classified as Veterinary surgeons or Veterinary physicians. The origin of Veterinary science is believed to be originated in India by the veterinary physician Shalihotra in the 3rd century B.C.
Further, Veterinary Science is a branch of medicine that, as a subject, deal with physical and mental treatment concerns of a range of non-human animals. From parasites to domestic and wild animals, Veterinary Science deals in all array of subjects that are directly or indirectly related to animal health and physical needs.
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Career as Veterinarian – How to Become a Veterinary Doctor?
The scope of becoming a Veterinary Doctor is very high as our country holds a huge population of animals. Their primary objective is to restore the biological organisms to their best of health and contribute to their physical and mental well-being.
Your career as a Veterinarian demands two prime things: ultimate knowledge of Veterinary Science and dedicated passion that is filled with love, care, and compassion for the animals. Once students have cleared their 12th boards, they can prepare to build their careers as veterinary doctors.
How to Become a Veterinary Doctor After the 12th? | Eligibility
India has its dedicated medical accreditation boards for medical practitioners and thus a dedicated process for becoming a Veterinarian. Before one begins with pursuing their graduation and post-graduation in individual branches of Veterinary Science, they must fulfil an eligibility criterion:
STEP 1: 12th passed with Science Stream (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as compulsory subjects). Some colleges also require English as a mandatory subject in the senior secondary classes.
STEP 2: Further, the eligible candidates have to sit and clear the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Until 2017, it was the All-India Pre-Veterinary Test (AIPVT) examination which was compulsory to get enrolled in a Veterinary college in India, however after, in 2017, it was replaced by NEET.
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Veterinary Courses in India- Undergraduate Level
Candidates who have cleared the NEET examination can enrol in Veterinary colleges in India and pursue their graduation degree. B. Sc is the one and only graduation course that can lead you towards your career path of becoming a Veterinary doctor in India; only the subject of focus differs under it.
B.V. Sc (Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry):
It is a 5 ½ years undergraduate degree with 6 months of internship tenure.
- 12th passed with PCB as compulsory subjects and minimum 50% to 60% aggregate.
- Entrance-based admission process.
- Semester-based full-time graduation course.
Job positions: Animal Breeders, Veterinary Officers, Veterinary Doctor, Veterinary Research Scientist, Food Safety and Inspection Veterinarian, Food Animal Veterinarians, Veterinary Surgeon, Junior Veterinary Doctor, and more.
B.V. Sc (Bachelor of Veterinary Science in Animal Genetics & Breeding)
It is a 5 years undergraduate course that focuses on in Animal Genetics & Breeding.
- 12th passed with PCB as compulsory subjects and minimum 50% aggregate.
- Entrance-based admission process.
- Semester-based full-time graduation course.
Job positions: Self-Employment, Entrepreneur in L.S. Farms, Poultry Farms, Biological Scientists, Lecturer Manager, Animal Farm Partner, Assistant to Practitioners Pharmacy, Animal Care and Service Workers, Associate Scientific Manager, Research Scientists, and more.
B.V. Sc (Bachelor of Veterinary Science in Animal Production & Management)
It is a 3 years undergraduate course that focuses on Animal Production & Management.
- 12th passed with PCB as compulsory subjects and minimum 50% aggregate.
- Entrance-based admission process.
- Semester-based full-time graduation course.
Job Positions: Veterinarian Assistant, Farm Manager, Veterinary Dermatologist, Veterinarian Food Inspection Specialist, Veterinary Physician, Associate Veterinarian, and more.
B.V. Sc (Bachelors of Science in Veterinary Gynaecology & Obstetrics)
It is a 3 years undergraduate course that focuses on animal Gynaecology and breeding.
- 12th passed with PCB as compulsory subjects and minimum 50% to 60% aggregate.
- Entrance-based admission process.
- Semester-based full-time graduation course.
Job positions: Biological Scientist, Veterinary Gynaecologists, Pharmacy Research Scientist, Veterinary Technologists and Technician, Senior Medical Representative, private practitioners, and more.
B.V. Sc (Bachelors of Science in Veterinary Parasitology):
It is a 3 years undergraduate course that focuses on protozoology, helminthology, and entomology with an interest in animal health.
- 12th passed with PCB as compulsory subjects and minimum 50% aggregate.
- Entrance-based admission process.
- Semester-based full-time graduation course.
Job Positions: Veterinary Officers, Veterinary researchers, Animal Epidemiologist, Pharmacist, Senior Medical Representative, and more.
B.V. Sc (Bachelors of Science in Veterinary Pathology)
It is a 3 years undergraduate course that focuses on research and diagnosis of animal tissue and body fluids for several illnesses and diseases. It is classified into anatomical pathology and clinical pathology.
- 12th passed with PCB as compulsory subjects and minimum 50% aggregate.
- Entrance-based admission process.
- Semester-based full-time graduation course.
Job Positions: Veterinary researchers, the lab in charge, Veterinary Research Scientist, pathology in charge, experts, and more.
B.V. Sc (Bachelors of Science in Veterinary Surgery & Radiology)
It is a 3 years undergraduate course that focuses on the field of surgery, orthopedics, anesthesia, implantations, imagining techniques, etc., in regards to animals.
- 12th passed with PCB as compulsory subjects and minimum 50% aggregate.
- Entrance-based admission process.
- Semester-based full-time graduation course.
Job Positions: Veterinary surgeons, Veterinary doctors, Biological scientists, Pharmacy Research scientists, lecturers, and more.
B.V. Sc (Bachelor of Veterinary Science in Animal Nutrition)
It is a 3 years undergraduate course that focuses on domestic animal nutrition from feeds, feeding, and ration balancing. Its study also focuses upon genetics, reproduction, animal agriculture, and nutrients absorption.
- 12th passed with PCB as compulsory subjects and minimum 50% to 60% aggregate.
- Entrance-based admission process.
- Semester-based full-time graduation course.
Job Positions: Animal Nutritionist, Veterinary research scientist, Veterinary doctors, Veterinary Sales Manager/ officer, Veterinary Storekeeper, lecturers, and professors.
B.V. Sc (Bachelors of Science in Veterinary Microbiology)
It is a 3 years undergraduate course that focuses on the study of research and development regarding bacterial and viral diseases of domesticated vertebrate animals. These animals include the ones who supply food and other productions.
- 12th passed with PCB as compulsory subjects and minimum 50% aggregate.
- Entrance-based admission process.
- Semester-based full-time graduation course.
Job Positions: Lab in charge, researchers, Biological Scientist, Pharmacy Research Scientist, professor, lecturers, and more.
Candidates who have their graduation degree in Veterinary science can further apply for a job or continue their studies for Masters and P.H. D level. A higher degree might help one acquire a bigger and better position in their job field and, as a result, an increased salary as well.
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Where can a Veterinary Doctor work?
It is a misconception that a Veterinary Doctor can only work in an animal hospital or can practice privately. There are immense working fields for Veterinary Doctors, and some of those include Laboratories, Slaughterhouses, Social advocacy organizations, Pharmaceutical industry, University lecturer & professors, Private & Government hospitals, NGOs, Animal Nutritional Centre, Food supplement industries, Shelter houses, Farms, ranches, and Social advocacy organizations.
Top-rated Veterinary colleges in India
- ICAR-Indian Veterinary Research Institute, Bareilly
- Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana
- Maharashtra Animal & Fisheries Sciences University, Nagpur
- Lala Lajpat Rai University of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, Hisar
- University of Technology, Sanganer
- Mahatma Gandhi Veterinary College, Bharatpur
- Veterinary College and Research Institute, Chennai
- Banaras Hindu University, Banaras
- Bombay Veterinary College, Mumbai
- ICAR- National Dairy Research Institute, Karnal
- Govind Ballabh Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pant Nagar
Salary of a Veterinary Doctor or Veterinarian
The Salary of a Veterinary or Veterinarian depends upon the field of their job, post, and kind of practice they are doing. However, despite the post and field of employment, a freshly appointed Veterinarian (in the private sector) can expect a monthly salary of 15000 INR to 25000 INR. At the same time, a newly appointed Veterinarian (in the government sector) earns around 30,000 INR to 50,000 INR.
PROS and CONS of working as a Veterinary Doctor or Veterinarian
Like any other working professionals, being a Veterinary Doctor or Veterinarian comes with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some of them include:
PROS
- Interacting with animals
- A decent salary
- A high demand for veterinarians
- The satisfaction of working with and helping the needy
- The opportunity of working in several fields
- It is relatively easy to get a job in the field of Veterinary.
CONS
- As a Veterinary Doctor treating animals might also take you along an emotional and personal hit.
- You would have to come across severely affected animals which is not a pleasant scenario to experience.
- Lengthy training and demanding work schedules
- Deal with unusual pet owners or pets.
Summary
With the never-ending requirement of treating birds, animals, and reptiles, there will never be a shortage of jobs and career growth in veterinary medicine. However, in order to plan and focus on this field of employment, it is essential to get prepared just after you clear your 10th boards.
If you are looking to get into any medical profession, be it for humans or animals, it is essential that you opt for the Science stream with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as the compulsory subject. Today, when most of the work is based on English studies and Communication, it is ideal if the candidate opts for the same in the school years.
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