Work-life-study balance – how I studied a veterinary certificate course alongside my full-time job
We all know that work-life balance can be tricky to achieve working in the veterinary field. So how do you maintain this equilibrium if you want to add in studying for a veterinary certificate course? In this article we will consider when you know you’re ready to study for a vet certificate, how to choose the best one for you and tips for successfully studying alongside a full-time job.
How to know you’re ready for a veterinary certificate course
Some people decide to start a vet certificate almost as soon as they have completed their graduate development phase while others wait until they have much more experience in the field. Below are some thinking points to help you decide if you are ready to dive into studying again.
You have a particular area of interest
From personal experience, I would recommend taking time to decide what area you are passionate about and enjoy in daily veterinary life. Do not feel pressured by your employer or peers to start a certificate if you do not feel you are ready or you are not sure which area you want to study. Take some shorter CPD courses and gauge how motivated you are to study in various areas.
For example, I chose to study internal medicine as I felt like I didn’t have enough knowledge three years after graduating. However, this course was very broad and, although beneficial to my work, I wish I had niched down further. The topic I enjoyed the most was dermatology so, in hindsight, I feel I would have benefitted more from studying this topic in more depth.
Your circumstances will allow you time to study
Are you in a stage of life that will allow you time to study? If you are already struggling to fit in all of your commitments then this may not be the right time to add in another one. For my online small animal medicine course, I needed six to eight hours a week to feel like I had thoroughly covered the material. In addition to this you need to find time to do other course work like writing a case report or filling in your case log if you are working towards a postgraduate certificate. The time needed will vary depending on the type of veterinary certificate course you do.
Your current employer will support you
It is important to discuss with your employer about how they can support you during your veterinary certificate course. It is often a big financial commitment for them so ensure that they are willing to fund it for you or, if not, are you willing to self fund?
As it is a big financial outlay for the practice many employers will ask you to commit to a ‘tie-in’ period where you will have to pay a percentage of the cost back if you leave that job within a set period of time. In my experience, new employers are often willing to take over these costs but you will likely have a new ‘tie-in’ period with your new role. However, this is not guaranteed so you must be prepared to pay back the cost if you are thinking about moving in the near future.
Some employers are also willing to give you paid time off to study. If not, consider if you are willing to spend your evenings or half of your day off revising. If it is financially viable and your employer is flexible you may think about reducing your hours to allow some breathing space.
Choosing a veterinary certificate course when you’re working full time
There are a plethora of vet certificates to choose from so how do you make sure you get the right one for you? I would recommend talking to colleagues or searching online forums to gain insight from previous attendees in your chosen field. Some providers have a better reputation for a particular topic and may suit your needs over others. Here we will discuss some crucial elements to consider:
Online or in-person?
Some courses, like the RCVS Certificate in Advanced Veterinary Practice (CertAVP) modules, offer flexibility but involve a lot of self-directed learning. Others, like the Improve International online courses, have structured coursework to work through. This provides a guide of what you need to learn but you do still need to motivate yourself to do the work! It can be easy to miss a few study sessions or squander your study time procrastinating.
If you do not find it easy to motivate yourself it may be wise to choose a course with a lot of in-person teaching. For example, some Improve International and BSAVA certificate courses are a blend of online and in-person attendance. The downside of this format may be that you will have to travel to the course location and often stay overnight, which may be tricky if you have children, pets or other commitments.
Length of course?
Another aspect to consider is how long you want to commit to studying this subject. Courses can vary hugely in length – from the accelerated Improve International emergency course which can be completed in as little as 15 weeks to the RCVS CertAVP which can take up to 10 years to achieve! The average veterinary postgraduate certificate, from providers like Improve International or BSAVA, takes 2-3 years to complete.
What are the assessments like?
The type of assessment varies between certificates, which can include coursework and formal examinations, so you may want to think about which format suits your learning style. For example, my small animal medicine certificate with Improve International required a 2500 word case report and final exams. These consisted of a Case-Based Scenario (CBS) examination, where you apply your learned knowledge to a clinical case, and an Online Applied Knowledge Examination (OAKE) examination which was made up of multiple choice questions. For the postgraduate certificate qualification a case log also needs to be completed.
Some other courses, such as BSAVA and the RCVS CertAVP, require more coursework including multiple essays and case reports per module. Generally, only the RCVS CertAVP or the General Practitioner Advanced Certificate (GPAdvCert) course have oral examinations.
My 5 tips for studying a postgraduate certificate alongside a full-time job
1. Discuss logistics with your employer
Do ask your employer if they will give you regular time off rota to study and time off before any exams.
Do consider asking for reduced hours if they cannot guarantee free time during working hours. This would reduce the pressure to fit everything into your busy schedule.
Do ask if you will be tied into a contract to pay back your certificate fees. They can be costly and this is a big consideration if you don’t plan on staying in your current location long term.
2. Diarise study time weekly
Do consider when in your week and day you are most focussed. For example, would you prefer a six hour block to study or would 3x two hour sessions work better for you? Set this time aside every week in your calendar for studying.
Do research studying techniques like the Pomodoro method. This involves focused study for 25 minutes followed by a 5 minute break and repeat.
Don’t let this time be eaten into by other tasks – put your phone away and any other distractions!
3. Organise a study space
Do consider where you study best – is it at home, at work or in a co-working space or cafe? Do you like to vary where you study?
Do leave this space ready for studying or, if not at home, organise a study bag. You are more likely to pick up from where you left off easily with less friction.
Do make it a relaxing and productive space. Make sure there is no clutter and perhaps add a candle or plant to help make the experience more enjoyable.
4. Start your coursework early
Do get other colleagues to direct relevant cases to you for your case reports and case log.
Do maintain continuity of cases as you need to be the primary veterinarian in order to use it as an example.
Do document details for your case log and reports as you go. Bear in mind the layout and content needed while you are working up cases for your certificate.
5. Prepare ahead for exams
Do think about the exam format and how you are going to revise material. The most effective way to retain information is to test yourself so making flashcards or a bank of questions in Google sheets can be helpful. This also makes it easy to quickly revise if you have some spare time in between consults.
Do ask your employer for at least a week off before your exams to study and prepare yourself.
Don’t leave revision all until the last minute!
Conclusion
Although it was difficult to juggle at times, I am glad I made the time to study for a veterinary postgraduate certificate. It has vastly improved my clinical decision making and made me a more confident and competent veterinarian.
If you are seriously considering investing in your knowledge, I hope this article will help you find the veterinary certificate course that aligns with your career ambitions while also maintaining that all important work-life-study balance.
