Veterinarian Career Profile | Career Advice and Help Australia CareerNav

Veterinarian *

Last modified: November 07, 2011, 01:26 PM

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This is an ideal career for analytical and logical thinkers. Veterinarians give clinical advice and diagnose illness or injuries in all types of animals. You provide treatment and surgery if necessary.
You also give advice on ways to prevent the occurrence or spread of disease and provide information about ways to help keep animals healthy and productive.

Typical Career Progression

	Position	Salary	Experience	Education
Start position	Veterinary Assistant Work Experience	Unpaid practical training	0 Years	Tertiary Student
1st Promotion	Veterinarian Surgeon Graduate	$40 - 45k	0 Years	Degree
2nd Promotion OR	Veterinarian Researcher	$50k to $70k+	5 Years	Degree
2nd Promotion	Senior Veterinary Surgeon	$50 to $70k+	2 to 5 Years	Degree
3rd Promotion	Veterinary Practice Owner	$80k to $120k+	5 Years	Degree
3rd Promotion	Veterinary Specialist	$80k +	5 Years +	Postgraduate or Degree + practical experience & training with a professional)

**The above table should be used as a guide only

Typical Accountabilities & Responsibilities

Veterinary Assistant	Assists the veterinarian with office visits and examinations, takes care of the everyday needs of pets in the clinic or hospital ward and boarding facility, and helps maintain the hospital facility, keeping it neat and clean.
Veterinary Surgeon	Admits animals into the clinic, carries out examinations, diagnoses and treats, and prescribes or undertakes appropriate treatment.
Veterinary Researcher	Undertakes research into various areas of veterinary science, often offering clinical, technical and scientific information and support to companies and government departments
Veterinary Practice Owner	Responsible for managing the flow of cases in a clinic, ensuring a high standard of care and treatment, liaising with other specialists in referral cases, undertaking clinical work, directing and training the veterinary team, and performing veterinary surgery. Complete all administration duties associated with business ownership
Veterinary Specialist	Specialises in a particular area of veterinary science, whether in canine, feline, or any another classification of animals, as well as internal medicine and surgery.

**The above table should be used as a guide only

Career Path Options

Veterinary graduates may work in private practice where you examine and treat mainly domestic pets, dogs, cats, and other animals. Each year a number of graduates gain employment within government agencies including quarantine, disease research, or zoos. Specialisations in large animal work on farm animals and sporting industries of horse and greyhound racing are also available. Additional areas of work are beginning to open up in the areas of genetic technologies, food safety and animal welfare. The career prospect for a veterinarian is extremely positive. After private practice vets usually spend their remaining career in the industry somewhere, teaching or consulting.

About the Author

Dr Katrina Warren

Dr Katrina graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor degree in Veterinary Science in 1992. She first appeared on our television screens, in the Ten Network's children's program Totally Wild in 1994. She later joined the popular Channel Seven family show Harry's Practice as a resident vet and has worked across all media- television, radio, print and internet.