What Makes a Good Vet?
Do you have a real interest in animals and their welfare, an ability to get along with their owners, and an appetite for study, hard work, and success? If so, then you should certainly consider how a career in veterinary medicine would enable you to make the most of your abilities.

Liking and caring for animals are important elements in becoming a good vet. But there is more to it than simply being an animal-lover. Vets have to combine scientific and medical knowledge and excellent practical skills with a capacity for hard work and an ability to deal tactfully with animal owners.

You will certainly need good skills in observation and a scientific turn of mind. Diagnosing and treating conditions in animals (just as in humans) requires both knowledge and analytical skill. For this reason, vets have to undergo a long and thorough period of training. In order to complete this successfully you need the right kind of scientific interest (especially in biological science) and an appetite for sustained study. Treating animals is a highly-skilled activity, so you should be prepared for several years of education.

You will also need the skill (and sometimes the strength) to deal with animals which may be anxious and in pain. Any animal may bite, and the larger ones may kick. So you should be comfortable with the idea of direct physical contact with your patients. You should also consider whether you would be able to put an animal painlessly to sleep. This can be very distressing, but putting an animal down can bring a merciful end to suffering and it must be done well and humanely.

Treating animals also means having to work with their owners. You will need excellent communications skills to explain and discuss conditions and treatments. You will also sometimes have to break bad news in a clear and sympathetic manner.

Types of veterinary work
As a vet you could choose different paths to develop your career. Most vets work in private practice, but you might also establish a career in a zoo or an aquarium, among other possibilities. Many vets focus on treating small animals. Companion animals and pets such, as cats, dogs, rabbits, even reptiles, require regular veterinary care. You might also combine caring for larger animals such as cows and horses with small animal care. Some vets specialize in large animal medicine. You can also use your veterinary training to work in career areas such as public health, research, and meat inspection.

The range of veterinary work is broad. You would diagnose and treat a wide variety of conditions for different animals. You would also perform surgery, treat fractures, vaccinate animals, and advise their owners.

How do I Become a Veterinarian?
Being a vet means a life dedicated to animal health and welfare. It is demanding and fulfilling work, and a college education, training, and experience are all vital to achieve success. Even at high school, you can start preparing for a veterinarian college education by studying as much science as possible and by helping out on farms or with vets or animal welfare organizations. 

To practice as a vet you are required to graduate with a doctoral degree from an accredited 4-year college. All states then require you to obtain a license. Gaining admission to a veterinary college usually requires a bachelor's degree, and experience in working with animals will also help. While the training is quite long, you will gain the opportunity to follow a wonderful, fulfilling and well-paid career as a vet.

Graduate from veterinary school
The central requirement if you want to become a veterinarian is to earn a four-year doctoral degree in veterinary medicine from one of the 28 veterinary schools accredited in the USA . Competition for entry to vet school is strong, and you will find your prospects of gaining admission much better if you have a bachelor's degree. If your college offers a pre-veterinary program, that is ideal; if not, try to major in as much science as possible, especially biology, zoology, and biochemistry. Work hard to maintain a high grade point average in college as you will need this to get into vet school. You should identify the vet schools which you wish to apply to as early as possible and check on their entry requirements. Try hard to match your college courses to those requirements. 

Gain your veterinary license
You will need a license wherever you practice in the USA . Requirements differ by location, but you will certainly be required to pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE). Most states will also require you to pass an exam covering state laws and regulations and some require additional tests of your clinical skills.