A veterinarian as an individual must possess some unique qualities that make them eligible for the service; in addition to the professional qualifications needed. The word “service” is used in lieu of “job” in this instance due to the very nature of work. An individual who considers veterinary nothing more than a job will seldom prosper in the field. That being said, if you are someone who has a respect and passion for life, all life! If you seek to follow a path of service and compassion, then make no mistake about it, you are an eligible veterinarian!

There are a number of opportunities within the field of veterinary for the eligible individual, however before one gets a chance to cease them, one first has to have the necessary qualifications on hand. The following are the various qualifications that are essential to become a fully fledged veterinarian:

1. A passion and love for animals: This is self-explanatory and we shall not elaborate on this. It is however stated that the potential veterinarian should be prepared for some unpleasant scenes. A veterinarian helps sick, injured and sometime even dying animals; as such an individual who is averse to such scenes of distress may find they are unable to effectively perform their duties.

2. A four year college degree: The first relevant academic qualification on the path o become a veterinarian is to obtain a four year college degree. The degree should preferably be obtained in pre-veterinary medicine, though any specialization relating to biology or medicine will suffice. Please note that the pre-veterinary medicine would be a prudent option as it will show a dedication to becoming a veterinarian from the get go. This will be reflected as a substantial merit at the time of your interview.

3. Doctor of veterinarian medicine (D.V.M) degree: The next step is to apply for the Doctor of veterinarian medicine program. The (D.V.M) degree is an essential qualification without which one cannot proceed further. Most colleges and universities offer this degree and some even offer combined programs leading all the way from a Pre-veterinary degree to the (D.V.M) degree. Please check with your local university for information on admissions regarding the same.

4. North American Licensing exam: Upon obtaining all relevant academic qualifications, the next step is to take the national licensing exam. Depending on your state and province, you may be subjected to an extensive background check and all relevant qualifications scrutinized for authenticity, before being allowed to appear for the exam. The North American Veterinary Licensing Examination (NAVLE) is conducted by the National Board of Veterinary Medical examiners, it is a 360 multiple choice questions online examination, with some questions containing graphic images relating to veterinary treatment.

5. State licensing examination: Depending on veterinary licensing procedure in your state/province, you may also be required to take a state hosted licensing examination. The best place to learn about the licensing procedure relevant to one’s own state is to approach a practicing veterinarian in the local area.

Upon acquisition of the above stated qualifications, one will find them self eligible for entry into the field of veterinary as a practitioner. The next step would be to choose to either join an existing practice, or start up your own practice. Whatever your chosen path may be, we wish all success in your future endeavors.