Veterinary surgeon

Veterinary surgeons care for animals - from pets and farm livestock to zoo and wild animals, using both medical treatments and surgery

Your role as a veterinary surgeon (often called a vet) will be to safeguard the health and welfare of animals. It's likely you'll practise in a general clinic, where you'll manage the medical and surgical treatment of a variety of animals.

You may also work in specialist practices, laboratories, government agencies or conservation settings.

Using your practical skills and understanding of animal physiology, nutrition and medicine, you'll diagnose illness, prescribe treatment and perform surgery. You'll also oversee anaesthesia, handle emergencies and implement disease-prevention measures, communicating effectively with owners and contributing to animal welfare, public health and education.

For information about working in a veterinary support role, see veterinary nurse.

Responsibilities

As a veterinary surgeon, you'll need to:

• work from a clinic or visit animals in their living environments, such as on farms, stables or in wildlife settings
• carry out home-visits - some vets do this
• handle, examine and treat animals including domestic pets, farm livestock, equines and exotic species
• consult with owners, carers, farmers, or zookeepers and explain treatment plans and preventive care
• conduct tests such as x-rays, blood samples, ultrasounds and other diagnostics
• advise on issues such as nutrition, breeding, herd/flock health and biosecurity
• carry out routine farm or site visits to monitor livestock health and disease risks
• immunise animals and carry out preventive programmes to control disease spread
• euthanise animals when necessary, handling the decision sensitively and ethically
• perform surgery, including planning and managing anaesthesia and post-operative care
• respond to out-of-hours emergencies when on call
• handle regulatory paperwork such as pet passports, travel documentation and micro-chipping
• keep clear, up-to-date records of treatments, advice and legal compliance
• liaise with, and refer to, other professionals such as veterinary specialists, labs, animal welfare agencies and regulatory bodies
• inspect animal products or assist in food-safety/equipment checks (especially when working with government or large-animal practice)
• promote the practice, manage finances, recruitment and perhaps business development - if you are a practice partner or senior vet
• research disease outbreaks, test and manage infection control, support export trade of animals and animal products, and contribute to broader animal-health policy - if you work in a public-sector role.

Salary

• Typical starting salaries for newly-qualified vets are £34,000, though may be a little higher or lower depending on the employer and region.
• With further training and experience, you can expect to earn between £40,000 to £70,000.
• Senior roles or practice partners can earn in the region of £70,000 to £100,000, depending on location, specialism and business involvement.

The median daily rate for locum vets is £450, with an hourly rate of £50, and up to £840 for night/emergency shifts.

Your salary will depend on several factors, including your experience, area of specialism, the types of animals you work with, and the size and location of the practice.

Vets in large-animal practices often earn more than those working mainly with smaller animals, and some salary packages may include benefits such as a car or accommodation.

Income data from the SPVS (Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons) 2024 Salary Survey. Figures are intended as a guide only.

Working hours

Many practices operate 24/7, meaning your hours may be irregular. You may work evenings, weekends and be on call for emergencies.

The job can involve travel, unpredictable workloads and long shifts, especially when dealing with urgent cases.

What to expect

• Most vets start in private general practice, with the opportunity over time to become a partner or establish a practice.
• Locum (temporary) work is increasingly common, offering greater flexibility.
• Depending on your role, you may work in a range of environments, including surgeries, farms, zoos, clients’ homes and outdoor settings, sometimes in challenging conditions.
• The job can be physically and emotionally demanding as you'll deal with sick/injured animals, perform surgery, make difficult calls and work under pressure.
• Excellent communication skills are essential as you'll need to support owners, explain treatment options and manage sensitive and distressing situations with empathy.
• The veterinary profession is evolving, with a growing focus on mental health support, work-life balance and diversity.

Qualifications

You'll need a degree in veterinary medicine or veterinary science that is accredited by RCVS.

See RCVS - Accrediting veterinary degrees for a current list of accredited institutions in the UK.

Degrees are generally five years in length, though six in some schools. Fees will depend on individual circumstances so applicants should check with the institutions where they intend to study.

Entry requirements are competitive and typical requirements include at least biology and chemistry at A-level, and strong GCSEs. Some schools consider relevant vocational qualifications or provide foundation years.

You will need to evidence experience of working with animals for entry to veterinary courses.

After graduation you must register with the RCVS to practise.

For more information about becoming a vet, see the following resources:

• RCVS - I want to be a vet
• British Veterinary Association (BVA) guideÌýApplying to study veterinary medicine
• MyVetFuture

All universities look for evidence that applicants have a passionate interest in veterinary science or medicine, demonstrated through gaining experience in a veterinary practice working with, and handling, domestic animals and livestock. Competition is high for places so take care with your application to ensure you present yourself favourably.

Skills

You will need to show you have:

• a strong commitment to animal welfare
• excellent communication skills for explaining complex information to clients, often in stressful situations
• a caring yet professional manner - you'll need both empathy and objectivity
• practical skills and the ability to make decisions under pressure
• good organisational skills, particularly if you move into senior or business roles
• flexibility and resilience
• commercial awareness and an aptitude for management - if you aim to become a practice partner or manage a team.

Work experience

This is a competitive career, so the more relevant work experience you can complete the more it will strengthen your application.

Consider seeking voluntary or paid placements at veterinary clinics, farms, stables, kennels/catteries, animal charities or wildlife centres.

Check the websites and consider speculative applications to animal charities, such as:

• Blue Cross
• Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA)
• The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA)

Even short-term placements are useful, and being proactive and showing a genuine interest will impress universities and employers.

Be prepared to talk about your experiences working with animals at interview, e.g. what you enjoyed, what you learned and how these experiences have shaped your veterinary career interests.

Find out more about the different kinds of work experience and internships that are available.

Employers

Typical employers of vets are:

• mixed or specialist veterinary practices (small animals, farm animals, equine)
• zoos, wildlife centres and exotic animal practices
• animal hospitals and referral centres
• animal charities and welfare organisations
• government agencies, public health bodies and the military, including the Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC)
• pharmaceutical companies, laboratories, universities and research institutes

Overseas or specialist roles are also available in wildlife conservation, international animal health and humanitarian work.

It may be possible to find overseas opportunities with Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).

Look for job vacancies at:

• Vet Times JobsÌý
• Vet Record Careers
• VetSurgeon.org
• The BVA publishesÌýVet Record, a fortnightly journal for veterinary professionals, which is available to BVA members.

Academic institutions advertise research, teaching, and clinical posts directly on their own websites rather than on commercial job boards. Charitable organisations (e.g. PDSA, Blue Cross, RSPCA and Dogs Trust) usually advertise vacancies for clinical or welfare-related roles on their websites.

Professional development

An essential element of undergraduate training is extra-mural studies (EMS), where you’ll complete a minimum of 30 weeks of real-life, hands-on work experience to enhance your university-based studies. This includes 10 weeks of animal husbandry EMS (AHEMS) and 20 weeks of clinical EMS. Students who started their degree before August 2024 are still required to complete 38 weeks in total (12 AHEMS + 26 clinical EMS). For the latest information, see RCVS Extra-mural Studies (EMS).

As a new graduate, you’ll complete the RCVS Professional Development Phase (PDP), which is designed to help you progress confidently from student to professional veterinary surgeon. The PDP counts as one year of continuing professional development (CPD) and should usually be completed within three years of entering clinical practice.

To remain on the RCVS Register of Members, you must renew your registration every year and keep your knowledge and skills up to date through CPD. Veterinary surgeons are required to complete at least 35 hours of CPD each year, recorded via the RCVS 1CPD platform. You can exceed this total if you wish, and CPD applies whether you work full or part time.

Becoming a member of a professional organisation gives you access to important career information, training and opportunities to attend events and seminars.

• British Veterinary Association (BVA)
• British Small Animals Veterinary Association (BSAVA)
• Society of Practising Veterinary Surgeons (SPVS)

Continuous professional development (CPD) is required throughout your career to keep your skills current, and once in practice, you can go on to study for further qualifications, such as the RCVS certificates and diplomas.

There may also be opportunities to become an Official Vet (OV). An OV is authorised by the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA) and helps to control the export trade of animals and animal products. OVs are qualified to carry out tasks such as tuberculosis (TB) testing, market inspections and export certification.

Career prospects

As a newly qualified veterinary surgeon, you'll usually start work as an assistant or associate vet, often under the guidance of more experienced colleagues while building your confidence and clinical skills.

Once in post, there are opportunities to develop expertise in specific areas, such as equine medicine, small animal surgery, cardiology or dermatology. Further postgraduate training is required for these specialisms, which may lead to RCVS Advanced Practitioner or Recognised Specialist status.

With time and experience, you may be offered the chance to become a partner or principal in a practice. However, partnership routes are now less common, as many UK veterinary practices are owned by large corporate groups, which tend to employ veterinary surgeons on a salaried basis.

Other career options include moving into roles with animal welfare charities, government departments such as the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) or DEFRA, or into research, teaching and public health.

There are also opportunities in universities, research institutes and the pharmaceutical industry, working in areas such as animal disease prevention and treatment, food safety, and veterinary public health.