Do you want to become a veterinarian? It is one of the favorite professions of children, but few continue to cultivate this passion even as adults. If, on the other hand, you are one of the few who have remained true to their childhood dreams, choosing a career in veterinary medicine can be really interesting! However, it is important to always keep in mind that it is not enough to want to play all day with kittens and dogs: you must be prepared to help them in moments of greatest suffering.
Steps
Method 1 of 3: Prepare Your Career
Step 1. Start gaining experience in the world of animals now
Join an association of volunteers such as ENPA (National Animal Protection Authority), participate in awareness-raising activities, collaborate with the local kennel. Animals, after all, are your passion: why not start helping them from an early age? This way you can also start gaining experience in the industry and learn how to handle different types of animals.
Step 2. Graduates
To enroll in an undergraduate degree in Veterinary Medicine, you must first obtain a baccalaureate. A good choice could be the scientific high school, which usually deals with subjects that can help you pass the first year university exams more easily.
Step 3. Graduates
Choose well the university to enroll in. Of course, the faculty closest to your home is the least expensive choice, but if you have the possibility to move, you could consider going to study in one of the most famous Italian faculties in the sector. According to the 2014 Censis ranking, the best Italian university of Veterinary Medicine is that of Padua, followed by Parma and Teramo.
The number of universities offering courses in Veterinary Medicine in Italy is above the European average: on average in Europe there are 4 or 5 per country, while in Italy it is possible to count more than 10
Step 4. Getting into Veterinary Medicine is not easy
In fact, it is necessary to pass an admission test. Like that of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, the entrance test consists of 60 questions. The time to answer is 100 minutes. The questions range from general culture and logic subjects to science subjects such as biology, chemistry, physics and mathematics.
The admission test is difficult, but not impossible. Start preparing yourself a long time in advance: you can study very well from home, with the help of the many manuals on the market and with the preparatory quizzes with multiple choice questions that will help you simulate the actual exam
Method 2 of 3: Obtain the Necessary Qualifications
Step 1. Complete the undergraduate degree in Medicine and Veterinary
The aim of the course is to provide the student not only with theoretical knowledge, but above all practical and operational skills. It is always important to remember that the profession of the veterinarian is not limited to private visits or to the clinic: a veterinarian, in theory, can carry out checks on the health conditions of the fauna of a given territory, act as a consultant for farms, manage the operations of slaughterhouses and much more.
Remember that during your years of study you will also be called to carry out a part of practical training. You can carry out your internship in any structure that has an agreement with your university or chosen by you, depending on the regulations of your faculty. A common choice is private veterinary clinics and practices, but the possibilities are different
Step 2. Pass the state exam
After successfully completing the Bachelor's Degree in Veterinary Medicine it is necessary, in order to work as a veterinarian in all respects, to pass a state exam. The exam in question typically includes 4 different tests, some oral and some practical. You will need to prove that you have acquired the necessary theoretical knowledge, but you will also be asked to demonstrate your operational skills in making diagnoses and prescribing suitable therapies.
There are two sessions per year to take the state veterinary exam: one in spring / summer and one in autumn / winter
Step 3. Join the order of doctors
To become a full-fledged veterinarian and be able to practice your profession, it is necessary to take one last step: to register with the Order of Veterinarians in your province of belonging. You can find all the relevant information on the websites of the orders of the various Italian provinces.
Step 4. Remember that a veterinarian is still a doctor and as such works in the interest of their community
Now that you are entering the world of work, think carefully about your interests: the job opportunities for a good veterinarian are many. Private tours are perhaps the most popular route, but they don't necessarily have to be yours.
Use what you have learned in the course of your years of study to orient yourself and understand the right one for you
Method 3 of 3: Being a Veterinarian
Step 1. Take the oath
Before you can start working, you will have to take an oath as a veterinarian and adhere to the code of ethics approved by the FNOVI (National Federation of Italian Veterinary Orders). You will have to promise to use your skills for beneficial purposes, just like a doctor, you are still a doctor.
Step 2. Look for work as a veterinarian
Most veterinarians work in private veterinary clinics that offer medical care for small pets. Others specialize in the care of larger animals such as horses, cows and sheep: their usual working habitat is farms and agricultural areas. Still others choose to specialize in the care of exotic animals in zoos and aquariums. Discover your vocation. What's speaking to you?
You can choose to work with small or large animals, as part of research, for the production of pet food, on farms and in parks - the possibilities are endless. You can work for the government, for private corporations or as a freelance worker
Step 3. Learn to treat animals and people
You will need to interact with the owners of the animals you care for. This involves being able to explain the various possibilities concisely and patiently. Owners often love their pets more than their own relatives! They will cling to you in hopes that you will be able to heal their young.
To be successful in this profession it is important to be compassionate, have self-confidence, be a good communicator and be able to make difficult decisions. You are responsible for the health of the animals you care for. Think of your doctor: Would you like it if your GP is unsure of his or her decisions regarding your health?
Step 4. Expand your education
The Degree in Veterinary Medicine is single-cycle and therefore it is not necessary to enroll in a specialist, but it is always possible to expand one's knowledge by continuing to study and attending conferences and seminars in the sector.
In Italy there are many veterinarians. It does not mean that there is no need for new professionals, but it may be advisable to direct one's specialization towards sectors that are expected to grow in the future, such as that of livestock or food quality control
Advice
- There are several updated sites that offer a lot of useful information to help you become a veterinarian. If you want to know more, try to consult the website of the National Association of Italian Veterinarians (ANMVI) or of the Italian Association of Small Animal Veterinarians (AIVPA). Furthermore, various specialized texts are on the market on the subject.
- In addition to the wide range of knowledge they must master, veterinarians must have excellent communication skills: it is important to know how to handle human owners as well as animal patients.
- Get experience as soon as possible - start at your city's kennel. You will learn many small daily tricks that will be useful for you to learn how to manage animals.
- Learn more about a specialist sector. Choose an undergraduate degree that delves into a specific area of veterinary discipline, such as surgery or bird care. To deepen one's knowledge in even more niche sectors, such as the care of exotic animals, it is possible to attend conferences and refresher courses.
- Adopt animals. Living every day in contact with them will make you understand if you are able to dedicate your life to treating them or not.
- Ask a veterinarian friend for advice if you have one you trust. Advice from a person you can trust is essential.
