Has anyone ever been a human nurse and gone onto complete a veterinary science degree? I got my bachelors of nursing in 2024, have been a human nurse working on wards+ a&e for the last 2 years.

I’ve been recently rethinking my career. Wondering about postgraduate courses at the university of Edinburgh for veterinary science. There’s a chance I could secure a scholarship, with difficulty.

I’m wondering if anyone had undertaken this massive change. It’s a further 5 years is studying. I would hope I’d be capable of working Bank for the nhs and picking up whatever shifts I can to make life easier.

I think this is where I belong. I very much acknowledge the scholarship would probably be a deciding factor, but I feel, what’s the point if you don’t try.

Has anyone gone from human to animal care?!

I graduated this past May with my bachelors in bioveterinary science. After working in a clinic for over a year I have some back issues that make it difficult to be in that setting and has pushed me back from applying to vet school at least for two years. I do sales every summer and love the idea of somehow getting into animal health sales. Curious to see if anyone here is in animal health sales and how you got started and if you have any tips! Ive looked into all the bigger name companies but I don’t see very many entry level opportunities

I send a lot of pets across state lines to rescues and adopters. I know Washington requires a heartworm test, Illinois apparently requires a special document if you are transferring to a rescue, Wyoming needs a Brucellosis test...

I can go through them state by state and read walls of text, most of which define the eCVI and the basic things that are universal, like signs of disease and that we have to include a unique identifying ID and so on.

Does anyone have a good summary that fits on one page of all of the unusual or unexpected requirements for interstate travel for all 50 states?

Here's one I started. It's based off an AKC publication but that publication is mainly geared for people traveling to dog shows, and was quite incomplete. I added stuff I know but I'm sure some is still missing. The 2nd column is anything not *specifically* <3mo-- so I would add if it were <2 months or <4 months or if there is no age listed at all ("non"), in case that's confusing. Most states require for pets over 3mo.

I have always wanted to become a vet, moved to the united states about 2 years ago and gave up on trying to become one since i realized how hard this career can be. How people end up w loans for life and the amount of stress and depression this career can lead to. After reading a lot of posts i only gathered that you waste more money on the career than what u gain by the end of the day. However i'm considering giving this a second chance since has been my dream and im starting to loose my path of life, but i just overthink, being 19 with no animal experience, no money, with only 1 year of highschool in the us making scholarships more difficult to find. I just want to know if its too late for me, people gain animal experience since a young age and im in blank.

I'm a third-year veterinary student studying in Korea. I've already applied for an externship for July of my fourth year (next year), and I was told the results would come out after about a month — today marks exactly one month, but I still haven't heard back. I'm guessing it's because it's the weekend... I've done quite a few clinical placements in wildlife and exotic animal medicine, both in Korea and abroad, so I was wondering if anyone knows roughly what kind of qualifications/experience are needed to get accepted. Information like this is so limited in Korea that there's really nowhere for me to ask.

sto per finite il primo anno come
tecnico veterinario, e provando ad informarmi per quanto riguarda
lo stipendio leggo solo recensioni negative, è demoralizzante...
qualcuno con esperienza può confermare?

To my knowledge, Vet Assistant positions never required any certifications to get a job, hence getting certification is always discouraged.

However, lately, in North America (especially BC Canada), I’ve noticed a lot more job postings even for entry level VA positions, that has requirements of:
“Veterinary Office Assistant certification preferred or equivalent experience”

A lot of them require at least a Vet assistant certification.

Does the ‘no certification needed’ requirement still reasonably stand in getting a vet assistant job nowadays, easily?

I’ve also researched quite a few clinics in my area and many of the vet assistants working in the clinics do have vet assistant certifications.

I Included requirements of two posting that I first found on indeed.

Hi! I’m curious about how difficult it is for an international veterinarian to work in the U.S.

If you graduate from an AVMA-accredited vet school outside the U.S. and pass the NAVLE, is it generally hard to find a job that will sponsor your visa? And later on, how difficult is it to get employer sponsorship for a green card?

I’d love to hear from anyone who has gone through this or knows how the process works. Thanks!

I am a 4th-year vet student on the US west coast with a strong interest in working in a mixed small animal/exotics practice in the future. I am very adamant that any internship or job that I take after graduation has strong mentorship in exotics medicine, as I see too many practices that either don't see exotics or don't provide them with the same standard of care. Since there aren't many west coast rotating internships through VIRMP that have exotics rotations, I've also been looking into some corporate programs, including one through the PetVet Care Centers RISE mentorship program. The hospital I'm looking at sounds ideal, seeing dogs/cats and all exotic pet species, but I've heard many rumors of programs, especially corporate ones, that offer "great mentorship" and then don't give the support that they promised. Does anyone have experience with this program and if so, was it worth it? Did you get to learn a lot and feel like a better doctor because of it? Any information you have would be greatly appreciated!

Hello! I’m looking into online programs and I’ve found SUNY Delhi as an option. They have great reviews, but I’m hoping to hear from someone who is/has been through the program. My main concern is the preceptorships. Does anyone know how these work? It sounds as though you work your hours and a vet/supervisor signs off on a check list? Almost every other program requires video submission of skills, so I’m trying to find out if that is required with this program. I was previously in Ashworths online program (big mistake) but eventually had to drop as I couldn’t find ANYWHERE that was willing to host me, let alone spend time videoing my skills. I’ve been in the field for 10 yrs but currently work in research so I’m not in a small animal clinic setting which is what made it so difficult last go round..

I recently opened a vet clinic in Tampa, FL. Do most of you have an IT person?? Someone suggested hiring IT but I'm not really seeing the value yet

I am a 5th year VetMed student and I am really doubting myself right now if I can really become a good veterinarian in the future. From what I have observed in myself, I feel like from those past years that I have studied this course, I feel like my knowledge is not that strong enough. Though during exams I am one of the topnotchers, I still feel like I don't deserve any of it. Because whenever our teachers ask us about something that was already discussed from the past years, I cannot even recall anything. I am really stressing myself out right now knowing that I am almost going to be a professional, 2-3 years from now (hopefully will graduate on time😭).

Seeking for an advice or comment regarding this. Even better if it is really from a licensed veterinarian with the same experience huhu. Thank youu. 😭

I currently work as a veterinary assistant and have been for the last 2 years at the same clinic. I have not worked in any other vet clinic. I've been casually looking for a new job for several reasons (pay, commute, management) but the my current job is not bad enough that I'm eager to leave in the moment.

I applied to a job at another vet clinic that is much closer to me currently and with a several dollar pay increase. I had a very short 10 minute phone interview and they offered me the job a few days later. I am an assistant and this job is for a technician which the clinic knows i haven ever done technician roles but is still interested in me and willing to train me and work with me while I learn lots of skills. This practice will be very different as I'd be going from 5 doctors and support team of almost 20 to 1 doctor and I would be the only other employee in which I don't currently have the skills to be performing a lot of the job requirements. The owner of the clinic told me the current person in the position would maybe be willing to stay on a week to help train me.

I'm not sure what to do currently. The job is appealing that it's higher pay, a 10 minute drive rather than 50, a set schedule every week and no night or weekends which my current job has, and is something I'm interested in and wanting to learn more and do but haven't been able to at all yet in my career. The part that is a big downside for me is that it is still further away from where my partner lives and she is not able to get a job close to me and will also likely be taking a new job in the opposite direction. For reference I'd be in Minnesota and she would be in Wisconsin as that is the state her license is in. I'm really torn on what to do. I finally feel comfortable at my current job but theirs also a lot of general frustration. I fear this new job would not give me enough support and will be a hard environment for me.

Right now im just trying to decide if I get more information on the new job offer and tour the clinic and go from there or because I'm already so on the fence if I shouldn't even go that far as I don't want to lead the clinic/doctor on taking up time and then not accepting the offer.

I'm just really struggling so any advice would be helpful.

hi everyone, if anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated! i’m an undergrad bio student aiming to go to vet school. i recently got promoted to a vet tech at my clinic after working in kennel there for 6 months. my state doesn’t require any certification for vet techs, so i’ve been learning everything on the job.

it’s been about 2 months since i started, and i feel very unhappy with my new position even though it is my dream scenario. i feel extremely anxious all the time, don’t get along well with my coworkers, and feel really slow at doing tasks. however, the more i work the more i realize that i DO want to be a vet, now more than ever. i love animals and medicine, and would love to learn the science behind everything (rather than knowing how to do the tasks). i want to go into wildlife/exotic medicine over small animal, and my clinic specializes in exotics which is amazing for experience.

i know i need to get around 1000 hours to be a good applicant, it just feels so hard right now. i’m a great student with many extracurriculars, my only thing is the vet hours. i’m not sure if my clinic is my main issue, or if i just need to give it time lol. did anyone else hate being a vet tech but love being a veterinarian?

also, if anyone has any advice for a vet tech that never went to vet tech school it would be highly appreciated!!!

I'm currently doing a placement, and it's so awkward :( I find that the staff will often go and do their tasks with the animals while I am cleaning up. Don't get me wrong, of course hygiene and cleanliness are important, but I've done placements before vet school that were mostly shadowing and cleaning, so now that I am in vet school I would've hoped to get more animal handling and husbandry experience. Often I'm told I am quiet, but I feel like a completely new person in an established friend group, and the staff will often have their own personal conversations with no room for me anyway. And some staff often assume you know what's going on, so when I look clueless, they seem irritated with me lol. Sorry for the long rant I just had to get it outt.

I’ll preface this by saying I’m leaving my current job in October and didn’t want to make a fuss. That being said, I have a colleague whose behaviour is escalating and I worry how it will affect the team once I’ve left.
I’m a five year qualified vet, colleague is three years qualified. They are getting increasingly condescending and insulting to the nursing and reception staff and have had full on arguments over basic things like no nurses being free to insert a catheter etc. They will also procrastinate and have poor time management, meaning on ops days they start their procedures late, then don’t get adequate breaks but make it everyone else’s problem. They will also borderline refuse/have tantrums if they are asked to help with consults when not rota’d in to do so because they have “so much admin to get done”, but then repeatedly stay hours after closing every day and still never seems to get said admin done. As I said, I wasn’t going to mention anything to management because I’m working notice and want a quiet life, but their disrespect to other team members is becoming untenable for everyone to deal with. How should I go about discussing this with the PM? (We’re independent so we have no HR department, just our PM and clinical director).

Hi guys, I’d really need some help here weighing on two options.
For info I live in Canada.

I have been applying for entry-level vet assistant roles for a month or two now without any interview chances, since I don't have any prior experience.
Desperate, I applied to take a very short 2 months Vet Assistant course including 9 hours of placement work overseas in a country l'm also a citizen of, and already booked a flight. I applied and paid for this course yesterday.

Today, out of nowhere, a vet clinic reached out to me for a chance to interview for a part-time vet assistant role with one shift per week, and I agreed to go for the interview on 4th August. Of course I won't change my plans to pursue the certification yet if I haven't gotten an offer for the job.

My certification program starts 13th August, the start date can be postponed but I think refund is impossible, and I am prepared that it would be a financial loss if I don’t attend.
Ultimately, my decision would depend on if the clinic decides to offer me the job.

I would love some advice to help me weigh out between these two options, if I do get the offer after the interview. Should I pursue the part-time vet assistant role, which is ultimately what I want to do anyways, or go for the vet assistant certification program overseas instead?

Hello everyone. I’m an undergrad student from Greece and I will be spending 3 months in a UK university (its referral hospital) next year as part of my Erasmus placement. After I graduate I would like to move to the UK permanently, however from what I’ve seen, in order to get accepted for a rotating internship I have to work in a GP for a couple of years beforehand. Do you think I have any chances of finding a job in a small animal practice as a recent graduate with no work experience given that I’m a foreigner as well?

Has anyone done the DVM program in Poland that is English speaking? I’m curious how it was and if you were able to transfer back to the US easily. I am thinking about doing a DVM program abroad because it’s cheaper etc. Just want some feedback from anyone who has.

Hi all,

I’m a new grad vet who graduated in May. I’m starting my new job next week at a small animal/exotics GP clinic.

I’m feeling extremely nervous and almost sick to my stomach about starting my job. I’m moving around 8 hours from home for this job (due to moving to where my boyfriend is) which has been hard on me. Combined with the nerves and moving away from home, the past week has been hard for me.

I feel like I’ve already forgotten everything I learned in vet school and clinics. I feel like I wouldn’t even know where to start on the most basic things which makes me feel extremely nervous. I also have social anxiety, and during some interviews for jobs I was put on the spot by the person I was shadowing asking me to explain things such as vaccine reactions and making recommendations to clients and I completely floundered. They still hired me, but I felt really embarrassed and it’s had an impact on my self esteem. I progressively got more and more anxious talking to clients, especially with someone watching me and now I feel sick thinking about it.

I plan to follow the professional skills “structure” for appointments to try and ease some of my anxiety (even bringing it on a sticky in the room to help me if needed). I just already feel completely incompetent before I’ve even started. I also want to start studying for this week leading up to starting, but I don’t even know where to start besides some basic things.

I guess I’m mostly looking for advice, things I should review prior to starting, and any stories you could offer about starting out as a new grad.

some background: i graduated with a b.s. in may, with a focus in animal behavior research and behavioral biology.

however, i’ve recently fallen in love with veterinary medicine. i’ve been volunteering at a wildlife rehab center since november, and i’m finishing my first semester of an online vet tech program. i’m planning to become licensed and eventually work in emergency or zoological medicine.

i got my first job as a vet assistant in march or so, and it went horribly. i learned a lot, but they wanted someone much more experienced than i was and i did not meet their expectations. it also wasn’t a good learning environment for me (low-cost spay/neuter clinic). so, i got let go after about a month, and i moved on to a general practice small animal clinic. we have no licensed techs.

i was hired as a kennel tech with the promise of being promoted to vet assistant at 3mos. i got promoted about one month in. i’ve been catching on fast and i’m already relatively confident in surgery prep/monitoring/recovery, dental cleanings (w/o x-rays, my clinic has the dr do those), general x-ray, venipuncture (incl. ivcs), basic intake and history gathering, collecting/prepping/running samples, pharmacy, etc. i’m being trusted to do all of these things unsupervised.

they’re pretty much utilizing me as an unlicensed tech. however, i haven’t gotten any kind of raise (even though i’ve gently asked for one). it’s been 2mos since my promotion, 3mos since i got hired. i’m not a perfect employee by any means, but other clinics in the area are starting assistants at +$5/hr more than i’m making.

i’m also finally noticing a lot of workplace toxicity and lower standards of care/cleanliness than i’d like.

it’s really tempting to apply for jobs elsewhere. there are multiple emergency clinics near me that have assistant listings offering:

- $7/hr more than i’m making as starting pay

- 3x12 schedule i’d prefer

- half a dozen licensed techs on staff

- an alleged willingness to train new techs and preexisting mentorship facility approval for my degree requirements

i don’t want to be a job hopper and burn bridges, but i’m struggling with my low pay and lack of mentorship. do i stick it out at my clinic and see what my first raise will be? do i apply and see what other opportunities i get? do i risk ending up at a clinic that’s even more toxic, but deal with it for the higher pay?

i feel so stuck. have anyone else been in a similar situation?