There are several steps to become a naturopathic vet, a veterinarian that practices holistic healing for animals, and the primary step is education. People who intend to become a naturopathic vet should be comfortable with most types of domestic animals, and should begin working towards this field early in his or her educational process. If the decision is made during high school, the student should begin focusing on various sciences such as biology, chemistry, and introductory anatomy. Some high schools have career programs and advisers which can assist the student on finding outside resources that will help him or her understand the various steps needed to become a naturopathic vet.
The student should choose a four year undergraduate university that has a well-developed science department in order to obtain a bachelor's of science degree. Some schools offer a pre-veterinary program, and courses usually include animal anatomy, biochemistry, cellular biology, and genetics. Students determined to become a naturopathic vet should research schools that offer the aforementioned program. Most pre-vet resources found on the Internet have the names of specific schools as well as a detailed synopsis of the offered curriculum.
Another helpful aid to getting into veterinary school is to volunteer or work at a vet clinic, which the student can do as early as high school. There are often available jobs as vet attendants, which are assistants who help around the clinic, walk dogs, clean kennels, and observe veterinary animal care. Animal shelters also need volunteers, and experience around animals in any capacity will benefit the student's future veterinary career.
Students are usually required in some jurisdictions to take the veterinary college admissions test (VCAT) in order to be accepted into a veterinary school. Most veterinary schools do not have programs designated to holistic medicine, but the student will complete general coursework including parasitology, animal nutrition, bacteriology, and virology. After successful completion of all coursework, the student will receive a doctor of veterinary medicine (D.V.M) degree before taking a licensing exam. License requirements may differ depending on the jurisdiction.
Once the student has completed both degree programs, he or she should begin a two-year program in homeopathy, which awards a certified veterinarian homeopath (CVH) degree. This additional certificate will enable the student to become a naturopathic vet because the primary focus of the program is holistic medicine and alternative treatments for animals. Additional experience can be gained by practicing in a clinic that is based on nautropathic methods.