There will always be work for someone who studied veterinary science, said Juan Schwartz, one of the vets at the Selpark Animal Clinic.
Doing this job is exciting and interesting because you do different things every day and treat different types of animals.
He says the difficult part of his work is when he loses an animal through death.
A frustration is the continual struggle with costs.
He explains that studying to become a vet gives you wide array of knowledge in the field.
“A vet is radiographer, surgeon and has to be able to administer the right medication.
“The skill you need the most are good, clear and precise communication, as a vet mostly works with the owners of the animals he treats.”
Schwartz explains that to become is vet is a six-year degree course, Veterinary Science (BVSc), and will cost about R30 000 per year for the course, excluding accommodation and cost of living.
Students live and study at the Onderstepoort campus (Pretoria University), in the east of Pretoria.
Because the University of Pretoria is the only institution in the country where you can obtain this degree, only 160 students will be admitted to the first year of study each year and 190 to the second year.
A school leaver who wants to study the BVSc course must have a valid national senior certificate with admission to study for a degree and must have high marks for English, mathematics and physical science.
Schwartz warned matrics who want to study BVSc next year to apply as soon possible, because the closing date for the 2015 entries was on March 31.
The fields someone may go into after completing this course are wide and vets would never be without work.
The qualified vet can choose between being in private practice like Schwartz or do research or become a state veterinarian.
Vets can also work in diagnostic laboratories, work with veterinary health such as with milk and meat hygiene or the control or transfer of diseases.
There are also opportunities like technical services, development of products in animal medicine or in the animal food industry, becoming a consultant or work with animal welfare.
The monetary rewards are huge, as a qualified vet can earn up to R24 000 per month in private practice.
