Veterinarian Job Profile
Final Level of Education: Bac + 6
Veterinarians are essential professionals in the animal health sector, combining advanced education with compassion to ensure the well-being of animals while contributing to public health and agricultural sustainability.
Learn MoreOverview
Veterinarians specialize in animal health, focusing on clinical care, preventive medicine, and research. They play a crucial role in maintaining the health of companion animals, livestock, and wildlife while safeguarding public health.
Success in this field requires critical soft skills such as attentiveness, empathy, teamwork, and autonomy. These qualities enable veterinarians to provide compassionate and effective care while navigating complex challenges.
Main Responsibilities
Veterinarians perform diverse duties, including:
- Disease Prevention & Diagnosis: Identifying illnesses and implementing preventive measures like vaccinations to ensure animal health.
- Treatment & Surgery: Providing medical treatments and performing surgeries tailored to an animal's specific needs.
- Laboratory Analysis: Conducting biological and functional tests to diagnose complex conditions.
- Retail & Counseling: Recommending medications, dietary supplements, and offering advice to pet owners and livestock producers.
- Management & Coordination: Leading teams, managing veterinary facilities, and maintaining sanitary and ethical standards.
Training & Expertise
Becoming a veterinarian requires earning a State Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, which can be attained in France or at accredited European universities. Additional certifications, such as CEAV or DESV, enable veterinarians to specialize in areas like equine surgery or livestock health management.
Key areas of expertise include:
- Animal anatomy, veterinary surgery, and diagnostics.
- Orthopedics, physiotherapy, and behavioral science.
- Public health and zoonotic disease management.
- Advanced research in virology, parasitology, and oncology.
Work Environment
Veterinarians work in diverse environments, including clinics, farms, and operating rooms. Their work involves:
- Handling potentially dangerous animals and biological samples.
- Frequent travel and prolonged physical activity.
- Exposure to pathogens and high mental workloads.
- Irregular schedules, including night shifts and on-call duties.
Salary & Special Features
At the beginning of their careers, veterinarians in private practices or clinics earn a gross monthly salary ranging from €2,037 to €3,886. This increases with experience, specialization, and location.
Veterinarians also contribute to public health initiatives, wildlife care, and groundbreaking research in medical and environmental sciences, ensuring a well-rounded impact in their profession.