Practicing in france

RE: Practicing in france

Pip R — Thu, 30 Jun 2016 14:53:33 GMT

I've worked with a few vets who worked in France & I think that, regardless of the nationality of your future clientele, you HAVE to be completely fluent in French. All your dealings with the French equivalent of the RCVS will be entirely in French & I gather they won't appreciate any "plus lentement s'il vous plait" ...

Worth it though, to live there permanently. Good luck!

RE: Practicing in france

Gillian Mostyn — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 13:39:02 GMT

[quote user="Martin Atkinson"][quote user="Kate Richardson"]I'd love to live and work in France, I absolutely love it there.[/quote]Ditto. But it will be when I retire[/quote]

Genuine question. What are you waiting for? Because if ill health forces you to stop working...then skiing and cycling will be out of the question.

Go for it!!!

RE: Practicing in france

Gerry Henry — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 11:39:57 GMT

I know, I know, I'm sorry, the thread isn't about the referendum but I couldn't resist Bob's comment above. This is typical of france, its why their economy is so sclerotic, we stopped doing business there when we were advised that our COMMISSION agents were entitled to paid holiday and redundancy !!

there is a lot of bureaucracy involved in getting a job in France - plus it is expensive for the employer - so most single-handed vets don't seem to employ others. Also self employed people were very heavily taxed plus hefty social charges of various sorts meant that a small self- employed type business is not lucrative

jeudi le 23 vote CONGÉ

RE: Practicing in france

Martin Atkinson — Wed, 22 Jun 2016 10:07:49 GMT

[quote user="Kate Richardson"]I'd love to live and work in France, I absolutely love it there.[/quote]Ditto. But it will be when I retire, I may buy a chalet in a ski resort and part let it self-catering to skiers in the winter and cyclists in the summer. Plus I can go skiing every day. On second thoughts, quit on the letting bit and just retire there!

RE: Practicing in france

J G Wray — Tue, 21 Jun 2016 06:37:11 GMT

Give Graham Hart a ring. He's a gentle soul. He took his whole family

https://www.linkedin.com/in/graham-hart-a591b159

RE: Practicing in france

Christina Smith — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 20:45:56 GMT

There is a shortage of farm vets in the Auvergne and probably countrywide.

RE: Practicing in france

Kate Richardson — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 19:54:33 GMT

I'd love to live and work in France, I absolutely love it there. Maybe we could set up a holiday treatment centre for Brits on hols, charge them a fortune, but they'll pay it to speak to an English speaking vet. Make lots of money in 3 months and then just sit back and enjoy

RE: Practicing in france

Rachel Stewart — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 19:50:43 GMT

Merci! That's really useful.

RE: Practicing in france

Vet12345 — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 17:15:14 GMT

Hi there,

When I looked into it a few years ago, I recall reading that if you did your vet degree in the EU, you could register as a vet in France but non-EU graduates including Australian graduates would have a string of exams to sit. I found this that might help https://www.veterinaire.fr/exercer-le-metier/les-conditions-dexercice-en-france.html . My French is getting a bit rusty, you might have to also speak to the Ag dpt in the area you want to work in also but hope it helps!

I think the Institut Francais and Alliance Francaise runs courses in French for medical professionals from memory but may not apply to Largies work ;) http://www.institut-francais.org.uk/french-courses/exams/professional-french-exams/

Good luck!

RE: Practicing in france

bob lehner — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 13:18:12 GMT

When I sold my practice we went to live in the Dordogne and I did think about working in practice there. I'm pretty sure you don't think you have to do any exams - but you have to register with their veterinary body (may well change if Brexit happens!).

The main probs are obviously you need to speak v good French inc. technical/medical jargon (unless all your clients are going to be ex-pats) - and don't discount regional accents and farmers' patois - (pretty much as in the UK).

Also most of the rural vets seemed to be single-handed and there is a lot of bureaucracy involved in getting a job in France - plus it is expensive for the employer - so most single-handed vets don't seem to employ others. Also self employed people were very heavily taxed plus hefty social charges of various sorts meant that a small self- employed type business is not lucrative (this was a few years ago pre-Sarkhozy - so that may have changed a bit now). In the end I found it easier to skip back to the UK to do the odd locum job.

One English guy I knew did set up on his own and seemed to do OK - tho' his wife, who acted as his telephonist told me of an amusing experience. Farmer 'phoned up in a high state of anxiety wanting an urgent visit as his sow was 'En chaleur'. English wife, whose French wasn't brilliant, thought this meant the pig was on fire - so sent her husband out with blue lights flashing. In fact the sow was 'on heat'....and just wanted a hormone injection.

RE: Practicing in france

Rachel Stewart — Mon, 20 Jun 2016 06:56:08 GMT

No but I am currently on holiday in rural France!

RE: Practicing in france

Joyce Whitehead — Sun, 19 Jun 2016 20:27:46 GMT

No help at all, but have you been watching Esacpe to the Chateau? It looks idyllic...