Veterinary Surgeon Job Information | National Careers Service

The work

As a vet in general practice you would:

• diagnose and treat sick and injured animals
• operate on ill or injured animals
• carry out a range of tests such as X-rays and scans
• provide care for in-patients
• carry out regular health checks, give vaccinations and give owners advice on care and diet for their animals
• check farm animals and advise how to stop diseases spreading
• neuter animals to stop them breeding
• carry out euthanasia (painless killing) for terminally ill and severely injured animals
• supervise veterinary nurses and support staff
• keep records of the treatments that you carry out.

You could also be involved in inspecting hygiene and care standards in zoos, kennels, catteries, riding stables, pet shops and cattle markets.

Some vets work full-time for the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA), helping to control animal diseases and protect public health interests. In this role they would work in either the Veterinary Field Service (VFS) or at Veterinary Investigation Centres (VICs).

Vets who work in public health aim to prevent and control animal and human diseases. Their work could involve investigating animal and human disease outbreaks, such as foot and mouth disease, or assessing the safety of food processing plants and abattoirs.

Vets in industry develop, test and supervise production of drugs, chemicals and biological products.

Hours

You would work on a rota system to provide 24-hour cover, seven days a week. This means that you may work at any time of the day or night.

You would carry out most treatments in a surgery, but may also need to travel to treat large animals on farms or other locations. Sometimes you might work in unpleasant conditions or distressing circumstances.

Income

Newly qualified vets can earn around £30,000 a year. Experienced vets can earn around £48,000 a year.

Earnings for senior partners in a practice can be over £50,000 a year, depending on the size of their practice.

Employers may provide accommodation and transport.

Figures are intended as a guideline only.

Entry requirements

To work as a vet you must be registered with the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).

To register, you must have a degree from a veterinary school at one of the UK universities approved by RCVS, or an equivalent overseas qualification that the RCVS recognises. See the RCVS website for details of approved degree courses.

• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons – approved degree courses.

Your degree would take five years to complete (six years at Cambridge), and include both clinical and practical training.

To do a degree course you would usually need:

• five GCSEs (A-C) including English, maths, chemistry, biology and physics (or a combined science, double award)
• and at least three A levels (AAB), including chemistry and one or two in biology, physics or maths.

Some universities will consider other relevant qualifications, such as a BTEC Diploma in Animal Science/Animal Management with distinction grades. You will need to check exact entry requirements with universities.

If you do not have the required grades or subjects, some universities offer a six-year course. The first year will prepare you for the five-year degree.

If you have a first or upper second-class honours degree in a science-related subject, you may be exempt from part of the veterinary degree course.

You would also need to gain a considerable amount of work experience in different veterinary practices, and in handling healthy animals on livestock farms or other animal establishments.

You would usually need a driving licence.

Training and development

The first year after you qualify as a vet is known as the Professional Development Phase. During this time you will be expected to develop your professional and clinical skills. The RCVS website includes a Year One Competences list, which will help you to plan and record your development.

• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons – Professional Development Phase

After this stage you will need to keep your knowledge and skills up to date through continuing professional development (CPD). Ways of doing this include:

• going to courses and seminars arranged by universities, veterinary associations and training providers
• networking with colleagues to learn together (for example to discuss case reports)
• in-house (internal) training
• distance learning involving online tutors and study groups
• independent learning, such as keeping up to date with veterinary journals
• working towards further qualifications such as RCVS certificates and diplomas, and university postgraduate degrees.

You could focus on treating particular animals, or specialise in areas such as dermatology or cardiology, by taking RCVS-approved postgraduate qualifications. See the education page on the RCVS website for details.

• Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons - postgraduate education

If you work with horses, you can join the British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA). The association offers a range of one and two-day CPD courses and workshops, meetings and networking opportunities. See the BEVA website for details.

• British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)

Skills and knowledge

To become a veterinary surgeon, you will need to have:

• an interest in the welfare of animals
• commitment to long and continuing training
• a high level of scientific ability
• willingness to work long and irregular hours
• physical fitness, practical skills and good powers of observation
• the ability to make difficult decisions
• assertiveness, to enforce public health and hygiene laws
• a patient, sensitive and sympathetic way with animal owners
• management and business skills to run a veterinary practice.

More information

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS)
Belgravia House
62-64 Horseferry Road
London
SW1P 2AF
Tel: 020 7222 2001
www.rcvs.org.uk

British Equine Veterinary Association (BEVA)
Mulberry House
31 Market St
Fordham
Ely
Cambridgeshire
CB7 5LQ
Tel: 01638 723555
www.beva.org.uk

British Veterinary Nursing Association (BVNA)
82 Greenway Business Centre
Harlow Business Park
Harlow
Essex
CM19 5QE
Tel: 01279 408644
www.bvna.org.uk

Society of Practicing Veterinary Surgeons
The Governor's House,
Cape Road,
Warwick,
Warwickshire,
CV34 5DJ
Tel: 01926 410454
Email: office@spvs.org.uk
www.spvs.org.uk

Opportunities

Most registered vets in the UK work in general practice and are self-employed. You are likely to start as an assistant in a private practice, be promoted to senior assistant in two to three years and later buy a share in the practice or set up on your own.

You could also work for zoos, the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, animal hospitals or animal welfare charities, such as the RSPCA, PDSA and Blue Cross.

You could move on to a research and/or teaching career within a university or research body.

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