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Length of veterinary working life

T J Heath1

  • 1School of Veterinary Science and Animal Production, University of Queensland. t.heath@mailbox.uq.edu.au

Australian Veterinary Journal
|August 13, 1998
PubMed
Summary

Most veterinary graduates remain in the profession, with many in private practice. Early animal responsibility influences career longevity, though factors like hours and compensation impact retention in private practice.

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Area of Science:

  • Veterinary Medicine
  • Career Studies
  • Professional Retention

Background:

  • Understanding veterinary workforce dynamics is crucial for practice management and education.
  • Longitudinal data on career paths of veterinary graduates are limited.
  • Factors influencing retention in private practice require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the duration of veterinary careers and time spent in private practice.
  • To identify factors influencing veterinarians' decisions to remain in or leave private practice.
  • To analyze gender-based differences in veterinary work patterns and career expectations.

Main Methods:

  • A longitudinal study tracking 119 veterinarians from veterinary school entry.
  • Data collected via questionnaires in the sixth year post-graduation.
  • Statistical analysis using the SAS System for Windows.

Main Results:

  • 90% of initial veterinary students graduated, with 96% entering private practice.
  • Five years post-graduation, 94% (73% FTE) worked as veterinarians, 64% (50% FTE) in Australian private practice.
  • Key reasons for leaving private practice included hours, principal/client attitudes, and inadequate rewards. Pre-course animal responsibility correlated with higher retention in private practice.

Conclusions:

  • The estimated average veterinary career length is 24 years (full-time equivalents) for men and 16 years for women.
  • After five years, 94% of graduates (73% FTE) remain veterinarians, with 76% (59% FTE) in private practice.
  • Prior animal responsibility significantly predicts continued engagement in private veterinary practice.

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