How to Become a Holistic Veterinarian

Holistic medicine helps the body's energy rebalance itself, resulting in healing from mental, emotional and physical ailments. As alternative medicine becomes more mainstream, veterinarians are now looking at treating animals holistically. If you're interested in becoming a holistic vet, there are some things to keep in mind.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

1. Go to an accredited college. Plan to major in a biological or chemical field. You will need good grades to get into veterinary school.

2. Volunteer or work for a vet, an animal hospital or in another way with animals. This will help you get into veterinary school. Because you're interested in holistic medicine, try to get a job or an internship with a holistic vet so you can learn all you can.

3. Enter veterinary school. You can expect to spend four years there getting your doctorate in veterinary medicine. Depending on the vet school, you may or may not be able to take holistic courses.

4. Obtain a license to practice veterinary medicine by passing the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam (NAVLE). Your state may also require an additional exam.

5. Consider certifying through the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy (AVH). Certification requires 128 hours (6 months) of veterinary homeopathy. You will then need to pass a qualifying exam and submit 4 case studies to the AVH. Then you will need to pass the final exam.

6. Think about becoming a member of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVMA) so you can further your education about holistic medicine.

Tips & Warnings

• You will need good grades to get into veterinary school. You also may need to take a qualifying exam, depending on your veterinary school's state.

Resources

• Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy (AVH).
• American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association (AHVM).

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