Futuristic Career Options for Veterinarians

Veterinarians are basically the animal doctors who diagnose and prescribe treatment for animals. Veterinarians care for the health of animals and work to improve public health. They diagnose, treat, and research medical conditions and diseases of pets, livestock, and other animals. The veterinary profession is considered as one of the oldest professions in India and the first veterinary hospital dates back to Emperor Ashoka’s era. The veterinary doctors have mainly two varieties of career options- technical career opportunities (related to core veterinary science) and non- technical career opportunities through a variety of competitive examinations.
Technical Career opportunities– Based on the NEET examination score, the candidates get admission for graduation in veterinary science as BVSc and later on MVSc. There are 7 veterinary universities, 37 state agricultural universities and 2 deemed universities (IVRI and NDRI) dealing with postgraduate qualifications in veterinary and animal sciences. The veterinary colleges in India produce more than 2500 veterinary graduates per annum. There are plenty of career opportunities for veterinary doctors in various state animal husbandry departments. The state governments recruit the veterinary graduates to the post of veterinary officers/veterinary surgeons. These recruitments are made through the respective State Public Service Commissions and the basic qualification required for the posts is a graduate degree in veterinary sciences. The veterinarians in the state departments look after animal health cover, animal reproduction, veterinary and animal husbandry extension, meat inspection and cattle, buffalo, sheep, goat, pig and poultry production, breeding farms, etc.

Some of the veterinary graduates are engaged in the disease diagnostic laboratories of the state Government, while a few are recruited in the biological production units. The various developmental programmes of government agencies are also taken care of by these veterinary officers. Another important career option for veterinarians is in dairy sector. They play a critical role in providing animal’s health care, veterinary extension and animal reproduction facilities to the livestock farmers. There is a scope to veterinarians in pharmaceutical sector and research activities which is quite challenging, demanding and involves professionalism.A large number of Indian and multinational pharmaceutical companies have entered into the production of veterinary drugs and pharmaceuticals. They employ veterinary graduates for production, quality control and marketing of drugs and vaccine.The veterinarians play an important role in organized state farms for managing livestock forms and insemen banks or sperm stations. They have an important role in poultry farms also for managing egg farms, hatcheries, and chick rearing units. Many veterinarians are employed in meat or milk processing plants for supervision of hygienic production of meat, collection and distribution of milk. In veterinary clinical career options, apart from establishing a private pet clinic, the veterinary doctors also play an important in Disease investigation centres and vaccine institutions. They have a role in public health labs also in terms of investigation of diseases which are transmissible from animals to man and vice versa. The municipal authorities employ veterinarians in slaughter houses, cattle farms, animal Zoo and wildlife centres.The career opportunities in research sector abroad as well as in animal NGOs, WWF or PETA is on rise in recent years.

Non-Technical career avenues- The non-technical career opportunities for veterinarians include scope through UPSC civil services examination, state level civil services examination as well as forest services examination; specialist officer career options in various banks, NABARD, insurance companies and so on. One of the important but neglected career option available for veterinarians is in Indian Forest Services Examination (IFoS) to pursue their career as a Conservator of Forests. The examination pattern and syllabus of IFoS is suitable for veterinarians in terms of inclusion of veterinary sciences as one of the optional subjects in IFoS mains examination. One of the most charming career options for veterinarians is in Armed Forces Remount Veterinary Corps(RVC). After completion of veterinary graduation and an interview test by the RVC recruitment directorate, the veterinarians undergo mandatory Army training and get commissioned in Indian Army as an officer. The various CAPF forces have also vacancies for veterinarians in the rank of Assistant Commandants.

The veterinarians have a bright future in terms of availability of multiple job opportunities. They should not look only for the government job as there is vast scope and ample opportunities in other organizations too.The opportunities are aplenty, but there is a need to keep your eyes open and explore the career option which suit you the most.

(The author of this article ,Lt Col (Dr) Satish Dhage, is an ex Army officer and has been qualified for IPS (Indian Police Services) through IPS LCE 2012. Presently, he is Director, MGM Institute of Competitive Exams Aurangabad. For any queries or feedback, he can be contacted on email id : drsatishdhage@gmail.com)