I am interested in becoming a vet, what qualifications do I need?
To become a vet, you will need to go to university and complete a degree in Veterinary Science. There are currently 8 universities in the UK that offer the course – Royal Veterinary College in London aswell as Bristol, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Nottingham, Liverpool and Belfast Universities. The entry requirements differ slightly for each university but competition is always fierce for places at these universities so it is advisable to get as much practical experience as possible in a variety of veterinary surgeries, farms, catteries, kennels etc. To find out more information, visit the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons website at RCVS, or contact the universities directly to find out the entry requirements.
I am interested in becoming a veterinary nurse, what qualifications do I need?
There are several different ways of gaining the Veterinary Nursing qualification. To begin training as a veterinary nurse, you need 5 GCSEs grade C or above including Maths, English and a Science. One way of training is to work in a veterinary practice for 2 years, going to college one day a week and completing a portfolio of competence. At the end of each year, you will have exams to sit. The other ways of training are to go to university and complete a Foundation Degree or a Degree in Veterinary Nursing. These two options take longer: either 3 or 4 years respectively. You still have to gain practical experience in practices and complete your portfolios. It is also a good idea to gain some practical experience in a vets, doing work experience, or some practices may employ weekend staff. For more information on becoming a veterinary nurse, go to BVNA or RCVS.