Careers

If you want to work as a veterinarian in Aotearoa, you must be registered with the Veterinary Council of New Zealand (VCNZ) and have a current practising certificate. The starting point to a veterinary career is gaining a VCNZ approved qualification. For New Zealanders, this is the Bachelor of Veterinary Science from Massey University. There are many other career options in the veterinary sector, including vet nursing and allied health roles.
Here is some useful information about veterinary careers in New Zealand:

• Veterinarian info page on careers.govt.nz
• Information from Massey University
• Become a veterinarian » New Zealand Veterinary Association

I’m a high school student and considering a veterinary career. What advice can you give me?

If your school has a careers counsellor, they are a good starting point to find out your options and what subjects would be useful to take if you are keen to pursue a veterinary career. They should be able to help you find out about the training requirements for the career path you are interested in learning about.  
If you want more specific information, Massey University has veterinary advisors. They are trained to help people who want to become veterinarians. They can look at what you've studied already and your future plans, and help you ensure you're on the right track. The best thing is to get well prepared with a good background in maths and sciences as becoming a veterinarian is a demanding science programme. 
You could also approach a local veterinarian and ask if you could spend some time observing the types of work veterinary teams do, so you can decide if it interests you. You may also want to volunteer at a local animal shelter to gain experience in working with animals.

What are some of the career options in the veterinary sector?

Some veterinary career paths include:

• clinical veterinarians (also called vets), who work with a wide range of species
• epidemiologists, who study the spread and control of animal diseases
• pathologists, who study animal diseases and other health conditions
• veterinarians who advise the government, develop animal welfare policies, and ensure the food we eat is safe
• veterinary researchers.⠀ 

What support is available to Māori and Pasifika students?

VetMAP

The VetMAP pathway is open to domestic students who are of New Zealand Māori or indigenous Pacific descent applying to the Bachelor of Veterinary Science (BVSc). Students can apply through either the VetMAP or general pathway (but not both in the same year). VetMAP supports Māori and Pacific students wanting to become veterinarians to be successful during their university study, by providing academic, cultural and pastoral support during the selection process into, and completion of a BVSc.

Pūhoro

Pūhoro works with rangatahi to improve engagement in Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Mātauranga (STEMM). Its academy programme aims to accelerate Māori student achievement in preparation for university study and eventually the workforce, so that the pathway to innovative and high value science and technology careers is more equitable.

What are some of the opportunities for further education?

Qualified vets can take further study (for example, at Massey University) to upskill in certain areas. They can also complete further training programmes to become specialists in topics such as:

• dermatology (skin)
• epidemiology (spread and control of diseases)
• oncology (cancer)
• surgery.

For information about other veterinary careers, contact the Veterinary School at Massey University or take a look through some of the vet nursing or other qualifications available through Te Pūkenga.