Annual Salary
£30,000 to £50,000
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
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Vets diagnose and treat sick or injured animals.
Average UK salary in 2023 was £34,963
(source Office for National Statistics)
You could work: on call; as customers demand
There will be
3.8% more Vet jobs in 2027.
In general veterinary practice you could:
You may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.
You could work at a veterinary practice, in remote rural areas or in a laboratory.
Your working environment may be physically and emotionally demanding and outdoors some of the time.
You can get into this job through:
You'll need to complete a veterinary degree approved by the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS).
Entry to courses is highly competitive. For this reason the selection process is very thorough. You can expect to be interviewed and to take screening tests at most universities. You'll need to show that:
You can find out more about studying veterinary science from UCAS.
Full-time veterinary degrees usually take 5 to 6 years.
If you already have a degree in a related subject, you may be able to take a 4-year graduate entry veterinary degree course.
You can also apply to join the Army Medical Service while completing your degree at university. On selection, you would receive further training to become a veterinary officer in the army.
You'll usually need:
You'll need to get experience of working in a veterinary practice, plus experience of handling different animals from small domestic pets to larger livestock.
You could also volunteer with a local kennel or animal welfare centre, or with animal charities like the PDSA or RSPCA.
You'll need to:
You can explore veterinary science through virtual work experience with Futurelearn.
You could join the British Veterinary Association and British Small Animals Veterinary Association for professional development and networking opportunities.
You could also join the British Equine Veterinary Association if you work with horses.
You can find out more about becoming a vet from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and British Veterinary Association.
You could focus on treating particular animals, or specialise in areas such as dermatology or cardiology, by taking RCVS-approved postgraduate courses.
Experience in veterinary surgery could also help you to get a job in environmental conservation.
You could also move into a career in research and teaching with a university or research body.
You'll need: