Vet

Vets diagnose and treat sick or injured animals.

In this guide

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

In general veterinary practice you could:

  • diagnose and treat sick and injured animals
  • perform operations
  • carry out blood analyses, X-rays and scans
  • provide care for animals in veterinary hospitals
  • carry out regular health checks and give vaccinations
  • check farm animals and advise on how to stop diseases spreading
  • supervise veterinary nurses and support staff
  • keep records of treatments
  • communicate with pet owners and insurers
  • neuter animals to stop them breeding
  • put severely injured or terminally ill animals to sleep
  • follow public health and hygiene laws

Working environment

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 may need to wear a uniform and protective clothing.

Career path and progression

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.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • knowledge of animal medicine and dentistry
  • knowledge of biology
  • customer service skills
  • excellent verbal communication skills
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
  • the ability to work well with your hands
  • the ability to use your judgement and make decisions
  • to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

Restrictions and Requirements

You'll need to:

You may need a driving licence for some jobs.

Most relevant

  • Biology - Vets need a deep understanding of animal anatomy, physiology, and genetics to diagnose illnesses and perform surgery. They work with different species, so knowing how biological systems vary across animals – from cats and dogs to horses and cattle – is essential to their daily work.
  • Chemistry - Vets use chemistry when understanding how drugs and anaesthetics work in the body, interpreting blood test results, and selecting the right treatments. Knowledge of biochemistry is also important for understanding how diseases affect animals at a cellular level.
  • Mathematics - Vets calculate drug dosages based on an animal's weight and condition, which requires precision – getting this wrong could be dangerous. They also use maths when interpreting diagnostic data, blood results, and when managing the financial side of a practice.

Also relevant

  • Physics - Vets use imaging technologies like X-rays, ultrasound, and MRI scans to diagnose injuries and internal conditions. Understanding the physics behind how these tools work helps them interpret results accurately and use equipment safely.
  • English Language - Vets need to explain complex medical conditions and treatment options clearly to pet owners and farmers who may have no scientific background. They also write detailed medical records and communicate with insurance companies about diagnoses and procedures.
  • Psychology - Vets regularly deal with distressed pet owners, including breaking bad news about a beloved animal's health or end-of-life decisions. Understanding how people process grief and stress helps vets handle these emotionally demanding conversations with care and sensitivity.
  • Business - Vets often run or manage veterinary practices, which means handling budgets, staffing, and client relationships. Understanding business principles is valuable for those who want to own a practice or take on a leadership role within one.
  • Design and Technology - Vets perform hands-on procedures like surgery, suturing, and dental work that require excellent manual dexterity and practical problem-solving. Experience working carefully with tools and materials builds the kind of precise hand skills that vets rely on every day.

How to become

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course

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 are able to meet the academic requirements of the course
  • you understand what the role involves
  • that you are highly motivated
  • that you have gained some relevant work experience

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.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C), or equivalent, including English, maths and science
  • 3 A levels, or equivalent, including biology and chemistry

More Information

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.

Registration

Career tips

You can explore veterinary science through virtual work experience with Futurelearn.

Professional and industry bodies

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.

Further information

You can find out more about becoming a vet from the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons and British Veterinary Association.

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