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Veterinarians and Veterinary Inspectors

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
1400 River Park Drive, Suite 100
Sacramento, CA  95815
(916) 649-0599

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.