If you love animals, you can turn your passion into a profession by pursuing animal care programs. There are various schools that offer programs in this area of study to help you know how to look after the healthcare of animals for a living. The ones who look after the wellbeing of animals are called veterinarians.
The employment of veterinarians is expected to grow 36% during the next decade, much faster than the average for all occupations. Being a veterinarian is one of the best jobs in the nation (Money Magazine). The need for veterinarians will increase due to the demands of a growing pet population. Many people love to have pets and consider them as a part of family. Besides, the advancement in veterinary medicine has increased the demand for animal care professionals.
As a veterinarian, you will have to diagnose, treat, or research medical conditions of pets, livestock, and animals in other settings such as zoos and labs. Performing surgery on animals, operating medical equipment and advising animal owners about animal general care are some other jobs you will have to perform.
This profession can be a dream come true for animal lovers but before you make up your mind to pursue this profession, you should know you will have to do some unpleasant tasks as well.
Animal Care Programs
To become a veterinarian, you need to obtain a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree. These programs take 4 years to complete. In addition classroom-based instruction, you also complete laboratory and clinical components in these programs.
To pursue an animal care program, students should have taken courses in biology, chemistry, physiology, zoology, and animal science. Having a bachelor's degree can be useful to enroll in a program in this area of study.
The curriculum in the animal care programs includes topics such as animal anatomy, physiology, disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. Students can also take courses in general business management and career development.
Online schools also offer programs in the field of animal care. Online learning is a great way to earn a degree while still maintaining a busy lifestyle or employment.
License and Certification
Veterinarians also need to obtain a license from their state in order to get into the field. For this, they need to complete an accredited veterinary program and pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam.
Aspiring Veterinarians can also pursue certificate programs in a variety of specialties from The American Veterinary Medical Association. As the job market is very competitive, earning a certification can be very useful as it demonstrates expertise in a particular field.
Career Outlook
Jobs for animal care professionals are expected to grow faster than the average of all occupations. These professionals can find jobs in a variety of settings such as veterinary services industry, colleges, universities, clinics or research laboratories. They can also find jobs with federal, state, or local government. Some of these animal experts are also self-employed. The salary of animal care professionals ranges between $49,000 and $145,000 a year.
Frequently Asked Question(s)
Q:What are the advantages of pursuing online animal care training?
A:There are a number of advantages associated with pursuing online animal care training. Students interested in these programs have the opportunity to study at their pace and convenience. The syllabus for these programs is extensive with every topic discussed in detail. Students can also save money on travel and accommodations costs. Interested students are advised to search our website for more information on distance learning institutions and programs.
Q:What are the contents of the course on Statistical Analysis in the animal care specialist programs?
A:The Animal Care Specialist programs have dedicated course on Statistical Analysis. This course is worth 2 credits in total. It is designed to provide students with ample levels of understanding of the statistical analysis. This includes probability, normal probability distributions, decision analysis, measures of location, etc. Students are also provided with hands on experience in this course.
Q:After attaining Animal care programs and qualifications, what kinds of careers can I pursue?
A:The field of animal care is very vast and offers rewarding careers for interested individuals. If you have attained qualifications in this field of study then you can look forward to the following jobs: veterinary technician, wildlife rehabilitator, animal attendant, kennel worker, animal groomer, animal trainer, pet walker, animal behaviorist, etc.
Q:Can you tell me about jobs where you can work with animals?
A:If you are interested in working with animals, you can enter the field of animal care. There are a number of careers which involve working with animals, and each one has different education and training requirements. Some of the careers include veterinarian, veterinary technicians, veterinary assistants, animal care and service workers, wildlife rehabilitators, animal attendant, kennel worker, shelter worker, animal groomer, animal trainers, pet walker, animal behaviorist, etc. These careers involve taking care of animals, training them, providing health care services, etc.
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