Setting Up a Holistic Vet Practice
Setting up a holistic vet practice is similar to setting up a traditional vet practice. To do so, you will need additional certification in holistic veterinary medicine. This can require up to two years of additional training. After completing your training, you will be ready to start your vet clinic. By teaching pet owners the benefits of holistic vet medicine, you can increase the need for your services in the community while providing traditional vet care.
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Things You'll Need
- Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
- Holistic veterinary certificate
- Veterinary care license
Instructions
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Complete a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M. or V.M.D.) degree from an accredited college or university. Currently, there are 28 veterinary programs accredited by the Council on Education of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).
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Earn a certificate in holistic veterinary medicine from a program approved by the Academy of Veterinary Homeopathy (AVH). Certification typically takes two years to complete and is necessary to practice holistic veterinary medicine. Coursework includes principles of homeopathic medicine, acupuncture, applied kinesiology, massage therapy and herbal medicine.
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Apply to become a licensed veterinarian in your state. To earn a license, you need to pass the North American Veterinary Licensing Exam. All states within the United States require veterinarians to pass this exam in order to open a veterinarian clinic or work as a veterinarian. Additional state-mandated testing may also be required. Contact your state's business licensing board for more information.
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Choose a location for your holistic vet practice. This location should be easy for people to bring their pets to the clinic. You will need several examination rooms, waiting room and records room. If offering boarding or overnight care services, choose a location that can accommodate these services.
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Market your services to pet owners by advertising in local newspapers, online or by volunteering your time at an animal shelter or rescue center. Include a list of holistic services and their benefits on your web site. Teach the benefits of holistic veterinarian medicine by offering workshops or seminars to pet owners. Offer special pricing for holistic services to new clients.
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Tips & Warnings
Create a business plan that includes all start-up costs, equipment costs, labor costs and how much you expect to earn during your first year. If applying for a small business loan, a business plan is one way to appeal to lenders.
Continued education may be necessary to maintain holistic veterinary medicine certification.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit pet dog image by NorthShoreSurfPhotos from Fotolia.com
