How to Become a Veterinary Doctor? Steps, Career, Salary

How to become a Veterinary doctor? Understanding, caring, and loving the animal is as important as getting a degree to become a qualified Veterinary Doctor.

A veterinary doctor, also called a "vet" in short form, is a medical practitioner who treats, cures different types of disease in birds and animals.

Table of Contents

• Steps to Become a Veterinary Doctor in India
• Skills Required to be a Veterinary Doctor
• Types of Veterinary Doctors
• Veterinary Courses in India
• Veterinary Science Colleges in India
• Eligibility to Become a Veterinarian
• Veterinarian Career Path
• Salary of Veterinary Doctor
• Duties of Veterinary Doctor

Steps to Become a Veterinary Doctor in India

There are certain steps and guidelines to become a veterinary doctor in India. It all starts at an early age in a student's life when it comes to medical studies. Below listed are the following steps to become a Veterinary Doctor in India.

• Step 1: Meeting the basic criteria
• Step 2: Applying for NEET
• Step 3: Selecting the right course and college

Step 1: Meeting the Basic Criteria

The basic criteria start with the selection of the right subjects from class 9. Science with Biology is a mandatory course to be followed in the school till class 12.

• A student must meet the demands of 60% in PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) to be eligible to get admission to any recognized college offering veterinary courses.
• Students can also apply for diploma courses just after class 10.

Step 2: Applying for NEET

NEET stands for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test. It is the single entrance test conducted at the UG level for admission to medical courses.

• Students must apply and qualify for NEET after their class 12.
• After successfully qualifying the NEET exams, admission to MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, BHMS, and BVSc & AH courses are granted to students.
• Now to become a Veterinary Doctor, a student may opt for BVSc or AH.

Step 3: Selecting the Right Course and College

A student must select BVSc or AH to become a Vet. BVSc stands for Bachelors of Veterinary Science. AH stands for Animal Husbandry, and it involves caring and rearing farm animals.

• Selection of the right college is as important as the right course.
• Many colleges are listed below, which provide different veterinary courses in UG and PG schemes.
• On successful completion of the course, a student can apply for a practitioner's license from the government and start practising as a Veterinary Doctor.

Skills Required to be a Veterinary Doctor

The veterinary doctors are required to serve the animals with tender care and support. They need to be surgically accurate, know about animal medicines, have proper knowledge of vaccines and diet. 

The following list elaborates on the required skills:

1. Clinical Competencies: Sound medical knowledge, theoretically and practically.
2. A strong Background in Medical Science: A candidate must be from a Science background with Biology in order to pursue veterinary science.
3. Diagnostic Competencies: Candidates must be able to handle Diagnostic tools and have the aptitude to understand animal responses.
4. Laboratory Knowledge: Laboratory knowledge leads the way to practical knowledge and provides experience.
5. Empathetic Nature: Must have soft skills to deal with animals and owners tenderly to reassure and support them.
6. Sufficient Knowledge of Science: The basic instincts of science must be known in order to diagnose rare cases.
7. Team Player: A candidate must be a team player coworking with Vet Surgeons and support staff.
8. Keen to Learn and Adapt to Modern Practices: A true doctor must adapt to modern technology and medication and help society.

Types of Veterinary Doctors

The question of how to become a veterinary doctor is best answered when a candidate knows about the different fields offered in the specialist disciplines. The various disciplines are as follows, which discusses the types of Veterinary doctors.

1. Companion Animal Veterinary Doctors
2. Equine Veterinary Doctors
3. Food Animals Veterinary Doctors
4. Food Safety & Inspection Veterinary Doctors
5. Research Veterinarians

1. Companion Animal Veterinary Doctors

These doctors treat pets, and they generally work in private clinics and hospitals. They mostly tend to the medical needs of cats and dogs, and they also treat pet birds, rabbits, etc.

These veterinary doctors diagnose diseases, provide treatment for health problems related to animals, advise owners about preventive health care, and carry out medical and surgical procedures.

2. Equine Veterinary Doctors

These types of veterinary doctors treat horses. Many stables which protect horses are prone to infections, and it spreads rapidly among horses.

Horses have special requirements for training and nutrition. Equine veterinary doctors specialize in this area and take care of the horses' medical needs.

3. Food Animals Veterinary Doctors

Food animal vet doctors are trained to treat farm animals such as poultry, pigs, cattle, and sheep. These doctors spend most of their time at farms and ranches and treating the animals.

They provide advice to farm owners and managers about feeding and general health issues.

4. Food Safety & Inspection Veterinary Doctors

Food Safety & Inspection Veterinary Doctors conduct inspections. They carry out tests on livestock and animal products for major animal diseases.

These doctors give out vaccines to treat animals and work for the betterment of animal welfare. For prevention and control of transmissible diseases, these veterinarians administer and design.

5. Research Veterinarians

Research Veterinarians conduct clinical research on animal health problems in laboratories. They perform tests on animals to identify the effects of drugs or test new surgical techniques that enhance the quality of surgeries being performed. 

Some veterinary graduates become assistant professors at colleges and universities since they like to teach and spread knowledge.

Also Check: How to Become a Doctor?

Veterinary Courses in India

In order to become a Veterinary Doctor, the student should pursue an undergraduate degree - Bachelor's in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry.

There are many colleges and universities which provide the same. The student can also pursue a Master's degree in the same field. 

The Veterinary Courses are broadly divided into the following four categories:

• Veterinary Course after 12th
• Veterinary Diploma Courses
• Masters in Veterinary Science
• PhD in Veterinary Science

Veterinary Course after 12th

Students searching for ways how to become a veterinary doctor after 12th? Must apply for a bachelor's degree after passing school. A minimum aggregate of 60% in PCB is necessary to be eligible for admission to any medical college offering Veterinary Courses. 

The following are the B.V.Sc courses available in Veterinary Science to choose from after class 12:

1. B.V.Sc (Animal Genetics & Breeding)
2. B.V.Sc (Animal Production & Management)
3. B.V.Sc (Veterinary Gynaecology & Obst.)
4. B.V.Sc (Veterinary Parasitology)
5. B.V.Sc (Veterinary Pathology)
6. B.V.Sc (Veterinary Surgery & Radiology)
7. B.V.Sc (Animal Nutrition)
8. B.V.Sc (Veterinary Microbiology)
9. B.V.Sc (Veterinary Medicine)

Veterinary Diploma Courses

Veterinary courses can also be pursued after class 10 in the form of a diploma degree. A Diploma degree can give more exposure to animal care and thus build a strong base of knowledge for the student. 

The following are the Diploma Courses in Veterinary Science that are provided in India:

1. Animal Husbandry Diploma Programme (AHDP)
2. Diploma in Veterinary Science and Animal Health Technology

Masters in Veterinary Science

A Master's degree in Veterinary Science helps in acquiring more research and knowledge. A master's degree also ensures a better job and superior designations in the field of animal care.

The following are the Master's degree courses available in Veterinary Science to choose from after completion of UG courses:

1. M.S. (Quality Systems in Dairy Processing)
2. M.Sc. (Live Stock Production and Management)
3. M.Sc. (Live Stock Production Technology)
4. M.Sc (Veterinary Medicine)
5. M.Sc. (Veterinary Public Health)
6. M.V.Sc & A.H (Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry)
7. M.V.Sc. (Animal Biochemistry)
8. M.V.Sc. (Animal Biotechnology)
9. M.V.Sc. (Animal Statistics)
10. M.V.Sc. (Animal Nutrition)

PhD in Veterinary Science

Students can also pursue higher education studies and do a PhD. A PhD in any Veterinary course helps research the development of improvised medicines, controlling disease and livestock breeding.

The following are the PhD degree courses available in Veterinary Science in India:

1. PhD (Animal Husbandry Extension Education)
2. PhD (Animal Nutrition)
3. PhD (Animal Science)
4. PhD (Veterinary Anatomy & Histology)
5. PhD (Veterinary Extension Education)
6. PhD (Veterinary Medicine)
7. PhD (Veterinary Microbiology)
8. PhD (Veterinary Parasitology)
9. PhD (Veterinary Pathology)
10. PhD (Veterinary Surgery & Radiology)

Veterinary Science Colleges in India

In India, the average intake capacity of each veterinary college is 60 students each, working out to a total of 3,300 a year. Around 2100 graduates are produced annually in the country.

Here is the list of top colleges to choose from for Veterinary Science in India, along with their average per semester fees.

Read More: Top Veterinary Colleges in India 2024

Eligibility to Become a Veterinarian

To pursue a Bachelor's in Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry (B.VSc), the student must have passed 10+2 in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology group. These students should attend the NEET exam conducted by NTA.

The required veterinary doctor qualifications are as mentioned below:

• If the student scores the required cut-off mark, then they will be able to pursue the degree.
• Students who want to pursue a Masters in Veterinary Science or Animal Husbandry must have completed a Bachelors in that particular field and should have a good percentage of marks.
• Each university has its own entrance exams, and the students have to score sufficient marks to get a seat in the Master's Programme.

Veterinarian Career Path

Graduates in Veterinary Science have many career opportunities in this field. With recent developments in Science and Technology, there is a rapid increase in pet ownership. 

• The increased number of poultry farms and other livestock has proportionally increased the demand for veterinary doctors.
• Many dairy research units and large-scale dairy and poultry farms require the services of veterinary doctors.
• Veterinary doctors can work in private hospitals and government veterinary hospitals.
• Many top veterinarians who have PG degrees go into research fields, and some of them become academicians by becoming teachers or professors in colleges and universities.

Salary of Veterinary Doctor

The job of a veterinary doctor can be stressful, demanding, hectic, and physically challenging, with a risk of infections. Hence, private practitioners are more common due to higher pay.

Government Veterinary Doctors have a much more secure job with added benefits. A Veterinary Doctor earns depending upon location and position.

According to PayScale, the average salary of a Veterinarian in India is as follows:

Duties of Veterinary Doctor

A veterinary doctor has to be prepared to cure animals in need. The doctor must have expertise in all laboratory equipment and other technical instruments.

Further, a veterinary doctor should be extremely careful, especially while attending to aggressive animals. Here is the list of duties which has to be followed by a Veterinary Doctor

• The veterinary doctor is responsible for diagnosing animal health problems.
• They are responsible for carrying out vaccinations against diseases like rabies.
• They provide medication to animals that suffer from infections or illnesses.
• They are trained to treat and dress wounds and also set fractures.
• They are responsible for carrying out minor to complex surgeries depending upon the necessity.
• They provide advice to pet owners about animal feeding, behaviour, and breeding.
• They euthanize animals when it is necessary.
• The veterinarian provides preventive care to maintain the health of livestock.
• They also perform diagnostic tests such as X-rays, EKG, Ultrasound, and so on.