How to pursue veterinary medicine in India after class 12?
A veterinary doctor, popularly called veterinarian or vet, is a medical professional who provides medical treatment and care to animals. While vets cater to all kinds of animals, some choose to help out small animals like cats and dogs, and others prefer to treat big animals in zoos and jungles, like elephants and bears. Students interested in pet care can take this up as a profession. They can pursue veterinary science as a career, right after their higher secondary.
Courses available
There are several undergraduate degree courses in veterinary medicine, such as Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc) that students can pursue after their class 12. In these courses, students learn about the examining animals to diagnose health problems, treating and dressing their wounds, performing emergency surgery on animals, operating medical equipment like X-ray machines on animals, testing for vaccines against diseases and vaccinating animals, euthanizing animals, prescribing medication to animals, and by far the most important task of advising animal owners about their pets’ medical conditions, treatments and general cares.
Institutes to study veterinary science in India
Some of the most popular institutes to study veterinary science in India are BJ Medical College, Ahmedabad, AIIMS, New Delhi, CMC Vellore and Armed Forces Medical College, Pune among others.
Eligibility criteria
Candidates who wish to pursue veterinary science after their school finals should have studied science stream as part of their 10+2 curriculum with compulsory Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English. They should also be passionate about learning key skills such as clinical, diagnostic and lab research skills followed by solid ground in general medical science and patient care. Most institutes in India prefer students who have 50 percent or above aggregate in their qualifying exams and are more than 16 years of age.
Some of the most popular entrance exams for veterinary science aspirants in India are: UP Veterinary Entrance Exam, AAUVET (Assam Agricultural University Veterinary Entrance Test), AP EAMCET (Andhra Pradesh Engineering, Agriculture and Pharmacy Common Entrance Test), AIPVT (All India Pre-Veterinary Test), and RPVT (Rajasthan Pre-Veterinary Test).
Career options after studying veterinary science
After studying undergraduate degree course in veterinary science, candidates can work in clinics, hospitals, shelter houses, laboratories, classrooms, zoos, social advocacy organisations, animal nutritional centres and even travel to farms, ranches and forests to help out livestock or other wild animals. The commonest job designations include: veterinary surgeon, companion animal veterinarian, equine veterinarian, food safety and inspection veterinarians, research veterinarians, veterinary dermatologists and veterinary pharmacologists.