Summary
A Social Worker for Animals works in the development sector, running programmes that improve lives in communities with limited resources. In India this work sits inside the Veterinary and Fishery Sciences stream: students usually take Science with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) in Class 11–12, qualify through B.V.Sc. & A.H. / B.F.Sc., and specialise later through work experience or a master's. The sections below set out the study route, the entrance exams, the leading institutes in India and abroad, and the day-to-day reality of the job.
Core skills
- Empathy and community rapport
- Proposal writing and reporting
- Data collection and evaluation
- Patience with slow systemic change
Where you can work
- NGOs and civil-society organisations
- CSR teams in corporates and foundations
- Government schemes and rural missions
- Multilateral and bilateral development agencies
Professional Opportunities
NGOs and civil-society organisations
CSR teams in corporates and foundations
Government schemes and rural missions
Multilateral and bilateral development agencies
Career Path
| Stage | What you study | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| After Class 10 | Science with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) | 2 years (Class 11–12) |
| Graduation | B.V.Sc. & A.H. / B.F.Sc. | 5.5 years / 4 years |
| After Graduation | M.V.Sc. / M.F.Sc. | 2 years |
| After Post-Graduation | Ph.D., professional certifications, or senior practice in the field | 3–5 years (optional) |
Important Facts
- Entry qualification: B.V.Sc. & A.H. / B.F.Sc..
- Most institutes ask for 50–60% in the qualifying examination; reserved categories usually get a 5% relaxation.
- Admission is through the entrance exams listed below — national tests plus the state CET where applicable.
- Government and private institutes both offer this route; fee levels differ sharply between them.
- Scholarships listed on the HBK scholarships page apply to most of these programmes.
Leading Institutes in India
| # | Institute | Entrance / Category | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | College of Vet. Science, Lala Lajpat Rai Uni. of Vet. and Animal Sciences, Hisar, Haryana | Veterinary Sciences | luvas.edu.in/ |
| 1 | College of Fisheries, Sri Venkateswara Veterinary University., Nellore, Andhra Pradesh | Fishery Sciences | svvu.edu.in/ |
| 2 | College of Vet. and Animal Science, Rajasthan Uni. of Vet. & Animal Sciences, Bikaner, Rajasthan | Veterinary Sciences | rajuvas.org/ |
| 2 | College of Fisheries, Assam Agri. University., Raha, Assam | Fishery Sciences | aau.ac.in/ |
| 3 | ICAR - Indian Vet. Research Institute, Izatnagar, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh | Veterinary Sciences | icar.org.in/ |
| 3 | College of Fisheries, Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agri. University, Dholi, Bihar | Fishery Sciences | www.rpcau.ac.in/ |
| 4 | College of Vet. Science, Guru Angad Dev Vet. and Animal Sciences Uni., Ludhiana, Punjab | Veterinary Sciences | gadvasu.in/ |
| 4 | College of Fisheries, Chhattisgarh Kamdhenu Vishwavidalaya, Kawardha, Chhattisgarh | Fishery Sciences | cgkv.ac.in/ |
| 5 | College of Vet. Science and Animal Husbandry, UP Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyay Pashu Chikitsa Vigyan Vishwavidyalay Evam Go-anusandhan Sansthan, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh | Veterinary Sciences | upvetuniv.edu.in/ |
| 5 | College of Fisheries, Junagadh Agri. University, Veraval, Gujarat | Fishery Sciences | www.jau.in/ |
| 6 | Post Graduate Insti. of Vet. Edu. and Research, Rajasthan Uni. of Vet. & Animal Sciences, Jaipur, Rajasthan | Veterinary Sciences | rajuvas.org/jaipur/ |
| 6 | Faculty of Fisheries, Sher-e-Kashmir University of Agri. Sciences & Tech., Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir | Fishery Sciences | skuastkashmir.ac.in/ |
| 7 | College of Vet. & Animal Sciences, Kerala Vet. and Animal Science Uni., Thrissur, Kerala | Veterinary Sciences | www.kvasu.ac.in/ |
| 7 | College of Fisheries Science, Birsa Agri. University, Gumla, Jharkhand | Fishery Sciences | www.bauranchi.org/ |
| 8 | College of Vet. & Animal Sciences, Govind Ballabh Pant Uni. of Agriculture & Tech., Pantnagar, Uttarakhand | Veterinary Sciences | www.gbpuat.ac.in/ |
| 8 | College of Fisheries, Karnataka Veterinary, Animal & Fisheries Sciences University, Mangalore, Karnataka | Fishery Sciences | kvafsu.edu.in/ |
| 9 | College of Vet. and Animal Science, Rajasthan Uni. of Vet. & Animal Sciences, Udaipur, Rajasthan | Veterinary Sciences | rajuvas.org/udaipur/ |
| 9 | College of Fisheries, Kerala University of Fisheries & Ocean Studies, Panangad, Kerala | Fishery Sciences | kufos.ac.in/ |
| 10 | College of Vet. Science and Animal Husbandry, Orissa Uni. of Agriculture & Tech., Bhubaneswar, Odisha | Veterinary Sciences | ouat.ac.in/ |
| 10 | College of Fisheries Science, Nanaji Deshmukh Veterinary Science University, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh | Fishery Sciences | www.ndvsu.org/ |
| 11 | Madras Vet. College, Tamil Nadu Vet. & Animal Sciences Uni., Chennai, Tamil Nadu | Veterinary Sciences | tanuvas.ac.in/ |
| 11 | Central Institute of Fisheries Education, Deemed-to-be-University, Mumbai, Maharashtra | Fishery Sciences | www.cife.edu.in/ |
| 12 | Dr. G.C. Negi College of Vet. and Animal Sci., CSK Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishwavidyalay, Palampur, HP | Veterinary Sciences | hillagric.ac.in/ |
| 12 | College of Fisheries, Orissa University of Agri. & Tech., Berhampur, Odisha | Fishery Sciences | www.ouat.nic.in/ |
| 13 | NTR College of Vet. Science, Sri Venkateswara Vet. Uni., Gannavaram, Andhra Pradesh | Veterinary Sciences | www.svvu.edu.in/ |
| 13 | College of Fisheries, Guru Angad Dev Veterinary & Animal Sciences University, Ludhiana, Punjab | Fishery Sciences | www.gadvasu.in/ |
| 14 | Bihar Vet. College, Bihar Animal Science Uni., Patna, Bihar | Veterinary Sciences | basu.org.in/ |
| 14 | College of Fisheries, Maharana Pratap University of Agri. & Tech., Udaipur, Rajasthan | Fishery Sciences | www.mpuat.ac.in/ |
| 15 | College of Vet. Science and Animal Husbandry, Kamdhenu Uni., Anand, Gujarat | Veterinary Sciences | www.kamdhenuuni.edu.in/ |
| 15 | Fisheries College and Research Institute, Dr. J. Jayalalithaa Fisheries University, Thoothukudi, Tamil Nadu | Fishery Sciences | www.tnjfu.ac.in/ |
Institutions Abroad
| Institute | Country | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Royal Veterinary College | United Kingdom | www.rvc.ac.uk/ |
| University of California, Davis — Veterinary Medicine | United States | www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/ |
| Utrecht University | Netherlands | www.uu.nl/en |
Entrance Exams
| Exam | Full name | What it admits you to | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEET UG | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test | B.V.Sc. & A.H. Course across Veterinary Sciences colleges in India | neet.nta.nic.in/ |
| CETUG-AAU | Common Entrance Test | B.V.Sc. & A.H. course at Assam Agricultural University-Assam | aau.ac.in/ |
| MP-PV & FT | Madhya Pradesh Pre Veterinary & Fishery Test | B.V.Sc. & AH and B.F.Sc. across Colleges in Madhya Pradesh | peb.mp.gov.in/ |
| UP-CATET | Uttar Pradesh Combined Agriculture and Technology Entrance Test | B.V.Sc. & AH and B.F.Sc. programs at Agriculture Universities across Uttar Pradesh | upcatetadmissions.org/ |
| BCECE | Bihar Combine Entrance Competitive Exam | B.F.Sc. and B.V. Sc. & AH across Agri. Universities in Bihar | bceceboard.bihar.gov.in/ |
| MHT-CET | Maharashtra Technical Common Entrance Test | B.F.Sc. across Agri. Universities in Maharashtra | cetcell.mahacet.org |
| AP-EAPCET (AM Category) | Andhra Pradesh Engineering, Agriculture & Pharmacy Common Entrance Test | B.F.Sc. and B.V. Sc. & A.H. across Agri. Universities in Andhra Pradesh | sche.ap.gov.in/EAPCET |
| CG-PAT | Pre Agriculture Test | B.F.Sc. and B.V.Sc. & A.H. courses across Agriculture Universities in Chhattisgarh | cgkv.ac.in/ |
| JCECE | Jharkhand Combined Entrance Competitive Examination | B.V. Sc. & A.H. and B.F.Sc. courses within the State of Jharkhand | jceceb.jharkhand.gov.in/ |
| SKUAST-J CET | Common Entrance Test | B.V. Sc. & A.H. courses at SKUAST | skuast.org/ |
| KEA-CET | Karnataka Examination Authority Common Entrance Test | B.V.Sc. & A.H., B.F.Sc (Fisheries), in all Govt. & Affiliated Colleges in Karnataka | cetonline.karnataka.gov.in/kea/ |
| TS-EAMCET AM | Engineering Agriculture & Medical Common Entrance Test)Agriculture Medicine | B.F.Sc. and B.V.Sc. & AH across Agri. Universities in Telangana | eamcet.tsche.ac.in/ |
| GBPUAT-CEE | Common Entrance Exam | B.F.Sc. and B.V. Sc. & AH at GBP Univ. of Agri. And Tech. Uttarakhand | gbpuat.ac.in/ |
| GUJCET | Gujarat Common Entrance Test | B.V.Sc. & AH and B.F.Sc. programs across Agriculture Universities in Gujarat | gujcet.gseb.org/ |
Work Description
- 01Assess community needs through surveys and field visits.
- 02Design and run programmes within donor budgets and timelines.
- 03Track indicators, outcomes and utilisation for reporting.
- 04Build partnerships with government, donors and local groups.
- 05Document case studies and impact evidence.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Meaningful, purpose-driven work
- Field exposure across diverse communities
- Growing CSR funding creates steady roles
Cons
- Project funding can be short-term
- Pay is lower than corporate equivalents
- Field postings can be remote and demanding
Are you fit for this career?
Take the free HBK psychometric test and see how Social Worker for Animals matches your interests and aptitude.
Sources
© HBK Careers. Compiled in-house from official regulators, exam bodies and institute websites. Exam and institute records on this page are the same records used across the HBK handbook and exams pages.