Veterinary

We've linked to key resources for careers in veterinary services and animal care.

Introduction 

Specialist training and qualifications are required to work as a veterinary surgeon and as a veterinary nurse, and qualifications and experience in related areas can be required to work in other areas of animal care. 

What’s it like 

Follow the links below for profiles of common occupations in this sector: 

Job profile: Veterinary nurse  (Prospects) 

Job profile: Veterinary surgeon  (Prospects) 

Job profile: Zookeeper  (Prospects)

Job profile: Animal Physiotherapist (Prospects)

Veterinary medicine 

MyVetFuture – careers site with sections for every stage, including “I am a vet student”, “I am a vet nurse student”, “I am an early career vet” and more. Also has articles on different specialities, and different sectors of veterinary work. 

MyVetFuture

British Veterinary Association -   benefits of student membership include a Graduates Guide. 

British Veterinary Association - student membership

Veterinary Schools Council UK - information on funding your veterinary studies course

Veterinary Schools Council UK - financing your studies

British Veterinary Nursing Association - information on careers in veterinary nursing.

British Veterinary Nursing Association

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons - "Find a vet” feature to search for veterinary practices, veterinary surgeons and veterinary nurses in different locations and specialities.   

Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons 

Animal physiotherapy

Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT) - professional body for chartered physiotherapists who, after training to work with human patients, have undertaken further study to work with animals. The site includes a good career information section. 

Association of Chartered Physiotherapists in Animal Therapy (ACPAT) 

Animal behaviour 

Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour – one of the accrediting bodies for animal behaviourists.  The website also has information on ASAB grants.

Association for the study of Animal Behaviour - Grants and awards

Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors - a professional organisation representing pet behaviour counsellors. The website contains information on becoming a pet counsellor as well as relevant articles and useful links.

Association of Pet Behaviour Counsellors 

Vacancy sources 

Vacancies may also be listed in many of the sites below. 

MyCareerHub 

Animal jobs direct - information on different careers with animals, as well as advertising paid and voluntary jobs in the UK and internationally. 

Animal jobs direct 

Vet Record Careers- British Veterinary Association site, advertising job vacancies for veterinary medicine and veterinary nursing in the UK and internationally.   

Vet Record Careers

British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums – vacancies, work experience and internships at member zoos.

British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums 

 

On Careers Service Plus, there is helpful information relevant to students of the Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies (University of Edinburgh login required):

Royal (Dick) School of Veterinary Studies Careers Service Plus