When we think about the medical profession we only think about doctors who treat humans and deal with the diagnosis and treatment associated with diseases of the human body but we all know that medicine as a profession is not only associated with treating humans but is also associated with treating non-humans or primarily animals. The medical professionals who deal with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases associated with animals are called a veterinary doctor or a veterinarian, in short, a vet. It is like a dream job for a person who loves animals and wants to work towards minimizing their sufferings in any way possible. A vet is usually responsible for diagnosing the animals of potential diseases by looking at the visible signs and symptoms due to the absence of vocal communication by animals. Vets also conduct surgeries on animals when the diseases are related to the internal organs. There are various types of vets who deal with different kinds of animals and since every species of animal has a different body structure than each other it can be understood why there are different doctors available for each category of animals.
Now one may think about the ways in which they can become a vet and make up their careers through their love for animals. As we know that if you want to become a doctor for humans you have to go through the NEET exam but you may think that what is the specific examination you need to give to get into the world of animal medicine? There are many such questions that are answered below :
What exam should an aspiring vet take to get into the veterinary profession?
Anybody who loves animals and wants to be close to them and wants to lessen their pain in any way possible can become a vet and anybody who aspires to so have to go through the NEET examination just like any other candidate who wants to get into normal medicine. You can practice for the NEET examination by practicing different types of questions, you can check out NEET Chemistry Important Questions here.
It was in the year 2017 that the ministry of education replaced an exam called the All India Pre Veterinary Test (AIPVT) with the NEET examination. Anybody who wishes to be a vet will definitely have to go through NEET and based upon the individual’s NEET score they will be admitted into different colleges at a 15% quota at all Indian levels.
What is the criterion for eligibility to appear in the exam?
First of all, the candidate who wishes to be a vet must hold an Indian nationality and should have studied science in class 12th and the subjects must include physics, chemistry, and biology along with English. Also, the student must score at least 50% marks (for the UR category) in class 12th. There is a specific age bracket into which you can give the exam, i.e. the candidate must be at least 17 years old and should not exceed the age of 25 years but the upper age limit is five years more for reserved categories, i.e. it can be till the age of 30 years.
What is the specific course for vets?
As soon as you clear your exam you get admission to a course called the bachelors in veterinary science and animals husbandry BVSc & A.H. It is a course with a duration of five and a half years which is the same as normal medicine.
Who conducts the admissions?
The admission process is conducted by the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) and it was formed in year 1984 and it is headquartered in the capital city of the country, New Delhi. It was formed with the objective of maintaining the standards of veterinary medicine and also for the purpose of laying down professional ethics and standards for vets across the country. It also looks over into the educational policy-making and recognition of qualifications of vets in the country. It works under the Agriculture Ministry, Govt. of India.
What does a work profile for a vet look like?
Vets are responsible to diagnose the animal with disorders through physical examination of visible symptoms or by running different kinds of medical tests through the animal body. Vets also deal with injury management for animals and they also work towards the prevention of disorders and diseases in animals. There are certain skills that a vet must possess, then only they will be able to do justice to their profession. A vet must be passionate about the welfare and long-term comfort of the animal, they must be kind, empathetic, and patient towards the animal and must deal with the animal with compassion and love. The working hours of a vet are pretty irregular compared to other professionals in the medical world, sometimes working conditions may also be challenging but all the hardships and challenges will be insignificant compared to the comfort you will provide to the innocent and voiceless animals.
Salary in the veterinary profession?
Starting salaries in these fields range from 4 lakh to 5 lakh per annum and with increments can go up to almost 6 lakh to 8 lakh per annum.
What are the courses in veterinary sciences in India?
In India there are many good universities that have courses related to the field of veterinary, some of them are given below:
- Various diploma courses such as in animal husbandry and animals health technology are usually pursued after class 10th.
- Masters degrees are usually done after you complete your BVSc from a recognized university, masters programs are offered in animal husbandry, animal statistic, animal nutrition, the technology of livestock production, animal biochemistry, veterinary medicine, and many more.
- You can also go for a doctorate degree after your master’s which are usually offered in the field of anatomy & histology, microbiology, radiology and surgery, and also pathology.
So, this was all about how you can get into the veterinary profession and the work profile and other aspects related to the vets in India.
