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Veterinarians tend to the healthcare needs of animals, including pets, livestock, and zoo and laboratory animals. Commonly called vets, most work in private clinics, treating companion animals, such as dogs and cats. They diagnose illnesses and perform medical procedures.

A small number of people who work in this field are equine veterinarians who treat horses, and food animal vets who work with farm animals who are raised to become food sources.

Some vets specialize in food safety and inspection. They check livestock for illnesses that animals can transmit to humans. Others are research veterinarians who study human and animal health conditions.

To learn about typical job duties in this field, we perused job listings onIndeed.com.

They listed the following tasks:

To become a veterinarianyou will have to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree from an accredited college of veterinary medicine. Although many schools admit applicants who don't have a bachelor's degree, earning one will increase your odds of gaining admission. There is keen competition for entry into this four-year program.

You will need a state-issued professionallicenseto practice. Every state requires candidates for licensure to pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE) administered by the International Council for Veterinary Assessment.

Many states also give their own exams.

Although it is not mandatory, many veterinarians choose to become certified in a specialty, for example, surgery or internal medicine. Requirements vary for eachbut may include getting experience in that area, passing an examination, spending additional time in school, or completing a three- to four-year residency program.

In addition to formal training, to be successful as a veterinarian, you need specific qualities you won't learn in school. Number one on this list is compassion, both toward the animals you will be treating and their owners. You will also need outstandingcritical thinking skills to aid in choosing appropriate treatment methods. Excellent interpersonal skills are also a mustsince you will spend time communicating with animal owners, staff members, and colleagues.

Manual dexterity and strong problem-solving skills are essential as well.

We again took a look at Indeed.com to find out what qualities employers are looking for in job candidates. This is what we learned:

Yourinterests,personality type, andwork-related valuesmust be a good match for any career you are considering. If you have the following traits, you could excel as a veterinarian:

Varies by specialty:

$208,560(general practitioners); $251,890+(surgeons)

Nurse Practitioner

Sources: Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Department of Labor,Occupational Outlook Handbook; Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor,O*NETOnline(visited October 12, 2018).

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What You Need to Know About Being a Veterinarian

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