VETERINARIANS AND VETERINARY INSPECTORS California Occupational Guide Number 282 Interest Area 13 1995
THE JOB
VETERINARIANS deal with medical problems of animals. They treat and diagnose animal diseases, provide preventive care, work to curb the spread of diseases spread by animals, give advice on livestock management and work to promote public health.
Most Veterinarians work in private practice. The majority treat small animals such as cats and dogs. Others specialize in larger animals or treat both. Typically, these Veterinarians diagnose medical problems, perform surgery, and prescribe and administer medicine, drugs, and vaccines. Small animal medicine concentrates on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of pet diseases. Services are usually provided in offices, animal hospitals, or clinics. A few veterinarians make house calls. Veterinarians for large animals specialize in the health care needs of horses and agriculture animals, and advise ranchers and farmers on proper care and management of livestock. Much of their work is done at the owner's ranch, farm, or home.
Veterinarians also work in specialized fields. Those in the public health field work to protect people from animal transmitted diseases. Veterinarians employed in government inspection services insure that meat, poultry, and dairy products are fit for human consumption.
Veterinarians with careers in research look for better ways to prevent and solve both animal health and human health problems. Still other choices include careers in the United States armed forces, veterinary colleges, zoos, animal theme parks, space and marine biology, medical research facilities, racetracks and other private industries.
WORKING CONDITIONS
Approximately 75 percent of California Veterinarians are in private practice. Those who care for small animals work in clean, temperature controlled clinics or hospitals and do minimal traveling. On the other hand, Veterinarians specializing in large animals must drive long distances to treat them. They frequently work outdoors, or in barns, often under difficult conditions. An increasing number of Veterinarians, however, now offer services out of mobile clinics.
Veterinarians frequently interact with diseased animals and they must take precautions to reduce their exposure to injury, disease, and infection.
Veterinarians employed in private industry, colleges, and research centers usually have modern, pleasant surroundings. Those working in public health or meat inspection positions can expect a variety of environments: ranches, farms, slaughterhouses, meat processing plants and laboratories.
EMPLOYMENT OUTLOOK
The following information is from the California Projections of Employment published by the Labor Market Information Division.
Estimated number of workers in 1990 7,970 Estimated number of workers in 2005 11,420 Projected Growth 1990-2005 43% Estimated openings due to separations by 2005 3,480
(These figures do not include self-employment nor openings due to turnover.)
As of 1995 there were 7,657 active, licensed Veterinarians in California. This number is expected to grow moderately. Growth in the animal population, emphasis on scientific methods of breeding and raising livestock and poultry as well as continued support for public health and disease control programs will all contribute to an on-going demand for Veterinarians. In addition, many jobs will be created by the need to replace those who leave the labor force.
It is anticipated that the profession's greatest growth will be in the food safety field and areas that require postgraduate education and training in research, laboratory animal medicine, toxicology, diagnostic pathology and environmental medicine.
Employment opportunities for other Veterinarians should be favorable. However, newly graduated Veterinarians are expected to have strong competition as they begin to establish a clinical practice.
In addition, government budget cuts could adversely affect hiring throughout the state. It is also expected that because growth in the food animal population will be unevenly distributed, the demand for food animal Veterinarians will decline in some counties.
WAGES HOURS AND FRINGE BENEFITS
Newly licensed Veterinarians can expect to earn between $25,000 to $35,000 a year in California. Annual earnings for Veterinarians with three to five years experience range from $32,000 to $50,000. Veterinarians with 6 to 10 years' experience can expect salaries of $40,000 to $75,000 or more. Beginning Veterinarians usually enter federal service at the GS-9 level ($30,652 per year) and can rise to GS-12 level or higher ($44,450 per year). At the State level, salaries range between $38,000 and $53,000 per year.
Veterinarians in private practice are usually able to establish their own appointment hours, although emergency cases or heavy caseloads frequently lead to long and irregular hours. This is especially true for Veterinarians just starting out, or those who are in practice by themselves. For those working in government agencies and private industry, hours are much more regular, and Veterinarians generally enjoy good fringe benefits.
ENTRANCE REQUIREMENTS AND TRAINING
Applicants to California's only school of veterinary medicine -- University of California, Davis -- must have completed the equivalent of three full academic years of pre-veterinary study at an accredited college or university. This work must include required units in physics, chemistry, biology, physiology, genetics, English, social science or humanities and statistics. Required courses taken in accredited two- or four-year colleges or universities are acceptable.
Evaluation for admission to this four-year veterinary program is based upon academic excellence, the Graduate Record Exam, and demonstrated motivation and experience in working with animals. Enrollment at UC Davis is limited to 108 openings per year. Competition for these openings is intense; there are five to six applicants for each. The majority of those admitted are biological or animal science majors.
Enrollment is limited at all schools of veterinary medicine in the United States. Most veterinary colleges are located in state universities and give preference to applicants who are state residents. States without veterinary colleges usually contract with other states to admit a specified number of their students each year. Many of the schools also reserve a limited number of openings for non-resident, non-contract students.
To be licensed in California, Veterinarians must pass the California State Board Exam. This exam requires passing scores on both the National Exam and Clinical Competency test.
ADVANCEMENT
Beginning Veterinarians going into private practice usually accept positions in established group practices. If the group practice is a small one, this might mean having to buy into the partnership. Experienced veterinarians may decide to open their own practices. Establishing a new practice requires a substantial financial investment.
ADVANCEMENT
Many graduates begin their careers by joining practitioners they have worked with during veterinary college. Job leads can also result from letters of inquiry addressed to the school by potential employers. Other graduates locate positions by direct contact and networking. Professional organizations and journals are also good sources for job leads.
ADDITIONAL SOURCES OF INFORMATION
School of Veterinary Medicine Office of Student Programs University of California Davis, CA 95616 (916) 752-1383
California Veterinary Medical Association 5231 Madison Avenue Sacramento, CA 95841 (916) 344-4985
California Board of Examiners in Veterinary Medicine 1420 Howe Avenue, Suite 6 Sacramento, CA 95825-3228 (916) 263-2610
RELATED OCCUPATIONAL GUIDES
Physicians & Surgeons No. 319 Veterinary Technicians (Animal Health Techs) No. 402
OCCUPATIONAL CODE REFERENCES
DOT (Dictionary of Occupational Titles, 4th ed., Rev. 1) Veterinarian, Laboratory Animal Care 073.061-010 Veterinary Pathologist 073.061-030 Zoo Veterinarian 073.101-018 Veterinary Livestock Inspector 073.161-010 Veterinary Meat-Inspector 073.264-010
OES (Occupational Employment Statistics) System Veterinarians and Veterinary Inspectors 321140
Source: State of California, Employment Development Department,
Labor Market Information Division, Information Services Group,
(916) 262-2162.
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