What's good about being a vet?

• It's interesting and challenging - you see different animals with different illnesses or injuries everyday
• It's rewarding because you're helping animals, and their owners
• You can choose to work in a general veterinary practice, or specialise in certain species or areas, e.g. reptiles, equine (horses) or surgery; or you can do research, work in the army, etc.
• There are lots of job opportunities
• Average salary: £25,000-£54,000+

What skills do I need to be a vet?

• Communication skills - don't forget that every animal comes with an owner!
• Being able to work as part of a team
• Animal-handling skills (you will develop these during the degree)
• Ability to work and make decisions under pressure

How do I become a vet?

To become a vet you need to stay on at school/go to college after your GCSEs and take certain subjects. You then study Veterinary Medicine at university, which takes five years. The degree is called the BVetMed at the Royal Veterinary College.

• At GCSE, you should take a range of subjects, and aim for 5 As including in Science, and at least a B in Maths and English
• Then you need to take three A Levels and one AS Level: you will have to take Chemistry and Biology AS and A2 Level, and ideally a third Science subject
• Grades you should aim for at A2 Level: AAA/AAB
• The Veterinary Gateway Programme at the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) may be for you if you are unlikely to achieve those grades - find out more about it on the RVC's website (www.rvc.ac.uk)
• It's very important to get some experience of working with animals in a veterinary practice, on a farm and anywhere else with animals, e.g. kennels, a riding school or a zoo
• Entry requirements vary, so check individual university websites for specific details

Where can I get more information?

• In London you can study Veterinary Medicine at The Royal Veterinary College, one of only seven vet schools in the UK
• Visit the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons website (www.rcvs.org.uk)
• Go to the careers adviser or the careers library at school/college
• If you're in Year 11 you may be able to attend the RVC Summer School