How to Become an Exotic/Avian Veterinarian

Avian veterinarians treat pet birds.

Employment for veterinarians is expected to grow by 33 percent through the year 2018, according to the U.S. Department of Labor's Bureau of Labor Statistics. Avian veterinarians specialize in providing care to birds, and exotic vets work with animals such as ferrets and chinchillas. Several years of post secondary education and training are required to find employment as an exotic or avian veterinarian. The Bureau of Labor Statistics notes that about 80 percent of veterinarians work in private practice.

Instructions

1. Prepare for veterinary school. While many veterinary schools only require applicants to have completed 45 to 90 credits of college coursework, most applicants have bachelor's degrees. The Bureau of Labor Statistics explains that is difficult to get admitted to veterinary school without earning an undergraduate degree because admissions are very competitive. As of 2007, one in three applicants to veterinary school were admitted. There is no specific major requirement for aspiring exotic or avian veterinarians. However, undergraduate coursework should include courses in chemistry, biology, physics, biochemistry, microbiology, zoology and college-level math courses such as statistics, algebra or calculus. Coursework in the humanities, social sciences and English is also required. You will also need to take an entrance exam.

2. Earn a degree in veterinary medicine. It takes four years to complete veterinary school. The first two years are focused on learning about animal anatomy and organ systems, as well as the diseases that can affect those systems. Science courses are also taken during the first two years of veterinary school. The second half of the veterinary school curriculum focuses on completing rotations in potential specialty areas, including exotic animal and avian medicine.

3. 

   The ferret is a popular exotic companion animal.

   Join a professional association. While in college, you can join a group such as the Association of Avian Veterinarians or the Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians. These groups can be a valuable source of internship or job listings and provide you with networking opportunities.

4. Get a state license. All 50 states and the District of Columbia require veterinarians to hold a license. It is important that you contact the state licensing board where you wish to practice with respect to specific licensing requirements. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in addition to holding a degree in veterinary medicine, you will need to pass an eight-hour, multiple-choice licensing examination. The North American Veterinary Licensing Exam tests a candidate's general veterinary medical knowledge, as well as diagnostic skills.

5. Complete postgraduate training in avian and exotic medicine. Residency programs last three or four years and provide intensive specialized training. For example, at the University of Tennessee, participants in the three-year avian medicine residency program learn about advanced principles in medicine, surgery and diagnostics, for both avian and exotic animal species. Applicants to residency programs typically submit veterinary school transcripts and reference letters.

6. Apply for certification as an exotic and avian practitioner. Specialty certifications are awarded by the American Board of Veterinary Practitioners, or ABVP. Avian practitioners constitute the second-largest group of board-certified veterinarians, topped only by canine and feline practitioners, according to the ABVP. A separate certification in exotic companion animal practice is also available, and qualified veterinarians can apply for both credentials.

References

• Bureau of Labor Statistics: Veterinarians
• Louisiana State University School of Veterinary Medicine: Professional DVM Curriculum
• Association of Avian Veterinarians: AAV Student Members
• American Board of Veterinary Practitioners: Avian Practice
• University of Tennessee: Avian & Zoological Medicine Residency Programs

Resources

• National Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners
• Association of Exotic Mammal Veterinarians
• American Board of Veterinary Practitioners: Exotic Companion Mammal Practice