Possible to be a practicing veterinarian in Chile?

[dudyduty]

Hey guys,

I was have a hard time finding an answer so I was hoping you guys might be able to help. Does anyone know the process of becoming a practicing veterinarian in Chile if you have a veterinary degree from an American university? I'm about to go to veterinary school in the fall in the US and am wondering if anyone has done this or knows someone who was a veterinarian in previous country, moved to Chile, and began practicing veterinary medicine.

Also, if it is possible, how would one go about looking for such a job in Chile?

Any advice would be great!

[dmwbmw2]

Cant help you with that but inquiring minds wonder why you would want to go from simewhere veterinary medicine is a respected and relatively well paid profession, to Chile, where it is not.

[admin]

Hey guys,

I was have a hard time finding an answer so I was hoping you guys might be able to help. Does anyone know the process of becoming a practicing veterinarian in Chile if you have a veterinary degree from an American university? I'm about to go to veterinary school in the fall in the US and am wondering if anyone has done this or knows someone who was a veterinarian in previous country, moved to Chile, and began practicing veterinary medicine.

Also, if it is possible, how would one go about looking for such a job in Chile?

Any advice would be great!

Yea, I am sure there is some convoluted certification process through U. of Chile vet school or something. You should contact one of the big university vet programs and ask them.

As far as finding a job, the short answer is you get really rich doing something else, then look for a vet job in Chile to volunteer your spare time.

There are almost more vets in Chile than there are street dogs. The street dogs at least can find steady employment. We use to actually employ a guy that had just graduated from vet school, and could not find any work in the vet field. Last I heard, he still was not working as a vet.

[Dosedmonkey]

I expect it will be like most degree level jobs in Chile, you'll have to get your qualification recognised by somebody, some association/registary of Vetinarians, in Chile, to do this normally you need it Notarized as real in the state's then take it to Chile embassy in states then get it checked in Chile, then it will be your profession and you can get a job. Sorry I can't be more specific, this is what I have to do for mechanical and electrical engineering.

Here is the informatión for you
http://www.minrel.gob.cl/reconocimiento ... 12420.html

[Julito]

For what it's worth.....
I have 2 relatives who did Vet. Science in Chile and after graduating only worked in the field for a few years before going farming and now specialise in breeding Chilean partridge. Another couple I met on Chiloe are ex govt vets and regardless they're still quite young they no longer practice, poor money to be made.
I'm sure there are many more but an exception is a woman we know in Santiago who has successfully carved out a niche as a mobile vet specialising in apartment dogs and cats. She's always busy, and being mobile has low overhead expenses.
So I guess the lesson in that is if you're going to be a successful vet in Chile, find a niche market in a large urban area.

[Donnybrook]

I think Julito is correct on finding a niche, something other than small animals in a traditional vet office. It might be different if you are a vet for farm animals, don't know. The veterinarians who work in a locale usually get the most income from selling dog and cat food, leashes and collars and grooming pets.

Aside from getting your degree recognized here, you would have to have very good Spanish to survive.

[jamie_m]

Unless you had a niche i think it would be all about de-sex and de-stroy.

[Cayte]

The son of my friend is a chilean educated veterinarian, born in Chile, lived here his whole life, speaks fluent chilean Spanish, German, and English. He lives in Concepcion, in his dad's house on Laguna Chica, is about 30 years old, and works half time as a veterinarian, for about 600,000 pesos per month. If he was more motivated, and did not have a girl friend that earns 4x more, he could earn 1200 Lucas per month, by working full time. But for many, here in Chile, veterinary medicine is not an extremely lucrative profession.

[dudyduty]

Thanks for the advice guys. I was asking because I am really looking into moving out of the United States after becoming a veterinarian and want to work a few years in a different country to explore a new area of the world.

[Donnybrook]

I think you will find the same need to validate your degree wherever you go. Your university should be able to advise on any countries where it is not a requirement. Also, you need to consider learning the language of where you go or choosing an English-speaking country.

[Dosedmonkey]

Thanks for the advice guys. I was asking because I am really looking into moving out of the United States after becoming a veterinarian and want to work a few years in a different country to explore a new area of the world.

You want good money, look at Europe, Hong Kong New Zeland or Japan perhaps.