Veterinarians

What the job really is

Diagnose, treat, or research diseases and injuries of animals. Includes veterinarians who conduct research and development, inspect livestock, or care for pets and companion animals.

At a glance

• Sector: Healthcare Practitioners
• O*NET-SOC code: 29-1131
• O*NET job zone: 5 — extensive preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Treat sick or injured animals by prescribing medication, setting bones, dressing wounds, or performing surgery.
• Inoculate animals against various diseases, such as rabies or distemper.
• Examine animals to detect and determine the nature of diseases or injuries.
• Collect body tissue, feces, blood, urine, or other body fluids for examination and analysis.
• Operate diagnostic equipment, such as radiographic or ultrasound equipment, and interpret the resulting images.
• Educate the public about diseases that can be spread from animals to humans.
• Counsel clients about the deaths of their pets or about euthanasia decisions for their pets.
• Advise animal owners regarding sanitary measures, feeding, general care, medical conditions, or treatment options.
• Euthanize animals.
• Attend lectures, conferences, or continuing education courses.
• Train or supervise workers who handle or care for animals.
• Perform administrative or business management tasks, such as scheduling appointments, accepting payments from clients, budgeting, or maintaining business records.

Tools and technology

Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Access, Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Word, Ambu bags, American Data Systems PAWS Veterinary Practice Management, Angiography catheters, Animal catching poles, Animal electrocardiograph ECG units

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Veterinary Technologists and Technicians
• Veterinary Assistants and Laboratory Animal Caretakers
• Allergists and Immunologists
• Physicians, Pathologists
• Emergency Medicine Physicians
• Dermatologists
• General Internal Medicine Physicians
• Urologists

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 5 (extensive preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Veterinarians — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.