[Written by a Veterinarian] How to Work in an Animal Hospital: Essential Qualifications, Job Responsibilities, and Traits of Suitable Candidates

For cat owners, veterinary clinics are a familiar place, but who exactly works there? Various people work in a veterinary clinic, including veterinarians, veterinary nurses, and reception staff. This article will provide a detailed explanation on the topic of "How to work in a veterinary clinic."

What are the paths to working in a veterinary clinic?

Are there jobs in veterinary clinics that don't require qualifications?

Staff at veterinary clinics include veterinarians, veterinary nurses, reception staff, groomers, and dog trainers. Currently, veterinarians and veterinary nurses are nationally certified professions. Other professions can be performed without qualifications, but may require completion of vocational schools or training institutions, or certified qualifications.

Professions requiring qualifications and their roles (e.g., veterinary nurses, veterinarians)

Professions that require qualifications include veterinarians and veterinary nurses.

Veterinarians must complete a veterinary medicine program at a university and pass the national veterinary examination. There are 17 universities nationwide with veterinary medicine programs, which are 6-year degrees. Veterinarians are responsible for the examination, diagnosis, and treatment of animals.

Veterinary nurses became a national qualification with the enactment of the "Act on Veterinary Nurses" in 2019. To become a veterinary nurse, one must graduate from a designated training institution and pass the national veterinary nurse examination. Veterinary nurses assist in examinations, care for hospitalized patients, and provide advice to pet owners on proper animal care.

Entry points as part-time or casual staff

For roles that do not involve medical procedures, such as veterinary clinic reception staff, clinics may hire individuals without qualifications or for part-time/casual positions.

By profession | Main jobs and roles in a veterinary clinic

Work of a veterinarian

Veterinarians are responsible for all medical care in a veterinary clinic. They give instructions to veterinary nurses and perform examinations. Diagnostic acts are only permitted for veterinarians.

Veterinary Nurse (formerly Animal Nurse)

Veterinary nurses, under the direction of a veterinarian, assist with medical procedures and care for hospitalized patients. Some veterinary medical procedures, such as administering medication and injections, can be performed under the veterinarian's instruction. Some tests can be performed by veterinary nurses, but they cannot make diagnoses.

Reception/Administrative Staff

Reception and administrative staff handle reception duties and phone calls at the animal hospital. Veterinary nurses may also兼任 these roles. Administrative staff may also be involved in the accounting of the animal hospital.

Cases where trimmers and groomers work

Veterinary clinics sometimes have a grooming salon attached. In such cases, trimmers and groomers are on staff. Trimmers and groomers are responsible for cutting and shampooing animals and are usually not involved in medical care.

Skills and mindset required in a veterinary clinic

Love for animals, observational skills, and calm judgment

A love for animals is absolutely essential to work in a veterinary clinic. Animals that come to the vet clinic may be aggressive or soiled with excrement. You need a love for animals that allows you to treat them all the same. Observational skills are equally important. Noticing subtle changes that owners may not have noticed can lead to accurate diagnoses.

Calm judgment is also an indispensable skill. This requires some experience, but when trouble arises, you must take a deep breath and make a calm judgment.

Ambition for improvement

Veterinary medicine is constantly evolving, and even in many primary care veterinary clinics, advanced medical procedures are now required. Treatment methods for diseases are changing rapidly, with new approaches emerging every few years. Therefore, a constant desire to learn and adopt new things is essential. A passive attitude of expecting to be taught everything will make it difficult to thrive in a veterinary clinic. A willingness to study continuously and grow even after employment is necessary.

Polite communication skills with pet owners

The ability to interact politely with pet owners is also considered important. At least some pet owners may be difficult to deal with. It's true that when you're busy, it's easy to be brusque with pet owners. It's necessary to treat all pet owners with the same courtesy and to patiently explain things to them.

Teamwork and a sense of responsibility

A veterinary clinic cannot run smoothly with just one person. Especially in emergencies or severe cases, there are many things that cannot be handled alone. Therefore, a team approach is necessary. If even one person acts independently, it can not only disrupt medical care but also threaten the safety of the animals. Teamwork is required. Furthermore, everyone must have a sense of responsibility. A veterinary clinic deals with lives. Therefore, everyone must act with responsibility.

Understanding of hygiene and infectious disease control

Animals that come to veterinary clinics can be in a very unsanitary state or have infectious diseases. Frankly, it's a very dirty job, and you will get dirty yourself. You must be prepared for this, otherwise you cannot work in a veterinary clinic. Regarding infectious diseases, some can spread from animal to animal, and others from animal to human. In the worst case, some infectious diseases can be life-threatening. You need knowledge and understanding to protect yourself and prevent the spread of infection to others.

Preparation and key points for changing or finding a job

Utilizing animal-related schools or correspondence courses

Veterinarians and veterinary nurses must graduate from veterinary universities or nursing training schools and pass national examinations. For other professions, it is necessary to acquire skills through vocational schools or correspondence courses. To work in a veterinary clinic, graduating from these schools is essential. Consider which profession you want to work in and choose the appropriate school.

By the way, speaking of myself, I entered veterinary school by taking a "bachelor's transfer examination." I graduated from another university once and worked in another profession before entering veterinary school. In this way, it is possible to advance to an animal hospital-related school even after entering society.

Learn about the workplace atmosphere through internships and observations

When looking for a new job or changing careers, it's a good idea to do internships or observations to get a feel for the hospital and its staff. Vocational schools sometimes include practical training at animal hospitals in their curriculum. It's also a good idea to check out a few other places.

How to write a statement of purpose and prepare for an interview

Although I am not a professional advisor on job hunting, I will explain from the perspective of a veterinary clinic owner. In your resume's statement of purpose, write about your skills, working conditions, strengths, and expertise in a clear way. There's no need to write at length, but lying is out of the question.

Interviews, while varying depending on the veterinary clinic's policy, are often conducted in conjunction with a tour. During this time, you may be asked to participate in some examination or grooming tasks to assess your skills. It's a good idea to understand what you can and cannot do and communicate that during the interview.

Veterinary clinics are not workplaces with high staff retention. Therefore, they hire individuals who can contribute immediately and are considered optimal for the hospital.

Summary

To work in a veterinary clinic, the required qualifications vary depending on the profession. And the work at a veterinary clinic is by no means easy or clean. However, working at a veterinary clinic is a rewarding job that involves caring for animals and their families. If you are interested, take the first step.