Willemien van Wyk qualified with a BVSc degree at Onderstepoort in 1997. During this time she completed a BSc (Hons) in Zoology at the University of Pretoria. In 2000 she completed a MSc in Wild Animal Health at the Royal Veterinary College in London. She then practiced as Associate Veterinarian and later as owner of the Bird and Exotic Animal Clinic in the Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital from 2000 to 2007. Currently she is in private practice, seeing mainly birds, primates, small mammals and reptiles.