If you have a passion for animals, an analytical brain and enjoy problem-solving, a career as a Veterinarian could be for you. Wondering what it takes to enter this career? Read on to find out!
Career Overview
If you love animals you’ve probably dreamed of growing up to be a vet at some point in your life. A passion for animals is crucial to becoming a veterinarian. Along with saving animal’s lives, you’ll need to make some tough decisions and put your patient above yourself.
Although a veterinarian may specialise in treating pets such as dogs, cats and small animals, they can also specialise in birds, farm animals and wildlife. Whether you see yourself living in a city, helping people’s pets or if you see yourself out in the bush, there is a place for you within the veterinarian realm.
Tip: Before applying to study Veterinary Science, job shadow a few different types of vets to see if this really is something you would like to pursue after school.
Required School Subjects
In order to study Veterinary Science, you will need to have the following high school subjects:
- English Home Language or First Additional Language – 60%
- Physical Science – 60%
- Mathematics – 60%
Institution and APS
The only place to study Veterinary Science in South Africa is at the University of Pretoria’s Onderstepoort campus.
You will need an APS of 35 (minimum) to qualify.
Required Qualification/s
In South Africa, you can only study a Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc), or you can opt for the Bachelor of Veterinary Nursing (BVetNurs) as a second option if you don’t make it in for veterinary science. However, the only way you can practice as a veterinarian in South Africa, regardless of which route you take, is through obtaining your BVSc degree through UP.
Required Skills
Becoming a veterinarian is a rewarding and challenging journey that requires a unique set of skills and attributes. If you’re considering this career path, here are the key skills you’ll need to become a successful veterinarian in South Africa:
Passion for Animals: First and foremost, a deep and genuine love for animals is essential. Your motivation to become a veterinarian should be rooted in a sincere desire to care for and protect the well-being of animals.
Strong Communication Skills: Veterinarians need to communicate effectively with both animal owners and their colleagues. You’ll need to explain medical conditions, treatment options and care instructions to pet owners, as well as collaborate with your veterinary team.
Problem-Solving Abilities: Veterinary medicine often involves diagnosing complex health issues and determining the most appropriate treatments. Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are crucial in this profession.
Empathy and Patience: Dealing with sick or injured animals, as well as their worried owners, can be emotionally challenging. Being empathetic and patient is important for providing emotional support and ensuring the best care for animals.
Manual Dexterity: Veterinarians perform various medical procedures, from surgeries to dental work. Good hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity are essential for these tasks.
Attention to Detail: Precision is vital in veterinary medicine. Small mistakes can have serious consequences. Paying close attention to details in diagnosis, treatment and record-keeping is a must.
Scientific Knowledge: Veterinarians must have a strong foundation in biological sciences, including anatomy, physiology, microbiology and pharmacology. A strong grasp of these sciences is essential for understanding animal health and diseases.
Stress Management: Veterinary professionals often work under high-pressure situations, especially during emergencies. The ability to manage stress and stay calm under pressure is crucial for providing the best care.
Physical Fitness: The job can be physically demanding. Veterinarians often have to lift and restrain animals, which may require strength and agility.
Adaptability: Veterinary medicine is a dynamic field, and new treatments and technologies are continually emerging. Being open to learning and adapting to new information and practices is vital for staying current in the profession.
Ethical and Professional Standards: Veterinarians are expected to adhere to high ethical and professional standards. This includes maintaining confidentiality, upholding animal welfare and ensuring the humane treatment of animals.
Business Acumen: If you plan to run your own veterinary practice, having a basic understanding of business and financial management is crucial.
Remember that the path to becoming a veterinarian involves rigorous academic studies and practical training, which will further develop these skills. As you embark on this journey, your passion for animals and commitment to their well-being will be your driving force, and these skills will help you excel in this fulfilling and impactful profession.
Where you can work
According to the University of Pretoria, your career opportunities lie in:
- State veterinary services: Regulations, surveillance, control, prevention of diseases.
- Private practice: This would be domesticated animals, farm life, wildlife, and animals.
- Research: There is a wide variety of research fields out there, for example, within biomedical science.
- Academia: You could lecture or even take on research projects within the university.
- Diagnostic laboratories: For things like toxicology, pathology and more.
- Veterinary public health: Ensuring that cattle and livestock used for human consumption are safe and meet all health and safety regulations.
- Commerce: You could join a sales and management company to sell animal goods and services or you can join the pharmaceutical industry.
- Consultancy: You can work within the various animal industries to provide advice and consulting.
- Laboratory animal science: you would be involved with the ethics behind animal experiments and testing.
- Wildlife management: You can work in ranches, conservation or zoological institutions. This field has been growing massively in South Africa in recent years.
- Poultry production: You would be involved with food security.
- Animal welfare: This is where you can get involved with SPCA-type work – clinical services and management for the well-being of animals.
- International employment: as a University of Pretoria (TUKS) graduate, you can legally work in the United Kingdom, Australia and Namibia.
Working Hours
If you’re actually working in a job where you medically treat animals, chances are you can be called out at any time of the day for emergencies, regardless of whether or not you work in a practice with set operational hours. Just as it is with humans, animals can demand medical attention at any time.
If you opt for something more in the consultancy or commerce line of work, you’re more likely to be able to conform to normal working hours, which equates to a regular 40 hour work week.
Expected Salary
According to Payscale, the typical salary for a veterinarian in South Africa amounts to about R497,220 per year, which translates to R41,435 a month. For those who are at the beginning of their veterinary career, the expected annual income hovers around R440,000, or approximately R36,666 per month.
As you accumulate more experience and reach the milestone of a decade or more in the field, your potential earnings could increase to as much as R604,999 annually, equating to a monthly income of R50,416.
What to expect
During your studies, you’ll cover a wide variety of subjects that will assist you along with your career. You’ll cover things like:
- Language and study skills
- Academic information management
- Genetics
- Biometry
- Chemistry
- Medical terminology
- Animal diversity
- Veterinary professional life
- Ecology
- Ethics
- Physiology
- Surgery
You’ll be studying full-time for six years, so the further along you get with your studies, the more specific and in-depth your modules and topics will be. Your final year will only be practical work to put your theoretical knowledge to work to ensure you graduate as an adequate veterinarian. You can find more exact details about your modules and the work you would cover.
During your studies, you’ll be introduced to the various fields and industries mentioned in the careers section above. This will allow you a look into what a career in that field would be. Be sure to get as involved as possible so that you can make an educated decision on where you would want your future as a vet to lie.
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