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Who’s to say a vet tech internship can’t be educational, rewarding, and cool all at once? Internships provide current students and recent graduates the opportunity to gain real-world experience while still learning closely under the supervision of more experienced vet techs and veterinarians. They may provide you the opportunity to dive deeply into a specialty of veterinary medicine or even expose you to new and exciting fields.
The internships below skip coffee errands or menial tasks but instead provide students the opportunity to learn by doing. They also provide a twist on traditional vet tech internships, offering the chance to give hands-on care to a variety of species. Many are based in zoos or animal rehabilitation facilities, while others cater to large farm animals or even marine mammals.
For facilities with animal hospitals or specialized clinics, they even provide specialized training in high-demand areas like veterinary radiology, necrology, animal husbandry, emergency medicine, sedatives and anesthesia, surgical care, and more.
Looking for exciting vet tech internships to gain additional experience and build your career? Look no further than the 25 internships below. Note that a majority of the deadlines are in 2022 and 2023. Most of these opportunities are available annually.
A vet tech internship is available for students with a bachelor’s degree in an animal-related field and an interest in entering a vet tech or veterinary school program. This internship requires a fair bit of manual labor, so all applicants must be in good physical fitness and be able to lift 50 pounds. The goal of the program is to provide participants with “basic knowledge of native Texas wildlife, their natural history, enrichment, dietary and habitat needs while gaining entry-level, hands-on experience in the wildlife rehabilitation.”
Interns can choose between the Wildlife Rescue & Rehabilitation campuses in either Kendalia or San Antonio, Texas. This internship includes extensive work with native Texas wildlife, including squirrels and songbirds, as well as companion animals. Applicants must commit to a three-month internship, which includes ten to 15 hours per week. In that time, interns also complete an education project of their choosing.
Vet techs who are interested in working as fieldwork biologists or with exotic animals may want to consider an internship at the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Of Minnesota. Both internships and externships are available to students in their final year of a vet tech program and the general public alike.
Interns are expected to work 20 to 30 hours a week assisting veterinarians and certified vet techs in their work and helping treat injured birds, reptiles, and mammals. Interns are accepted to each program for spring and late summer sessions. Interns who want to work with the mammals must have received a rabies vaccine and have a rabies titer prior to beginning their program.
This program is primarily aimed at graduates of accredited vet tech programs. Four interns are selected each year and are paid $12.00 per hour. Health insurance is available, and students may be able to live in the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine dorms for $100 per month, including utilities.
Core and elective rotations are part of the program and include after-hours, emergency, ICU, anesthesia, internal medicine, neurology, and oncology. Each internship lasts for a year. Interns are given two weeks of paid vacation.
The vet tech training program available at Moody Gardens, a large outdoors animal attraction for the public, is intended for sophomore or above students in good standing at their school. Duties for this internship can include vet tech duties in a zoological setting, learning quarantine procedures, interacting with guests, and providing hands-on care to animals.
Unpaid internships are available during the spring, summer, and fall. Interns must work at least 16 to 20 hours a week for three months or more during the school year and 20 to 40 hours a week during summer. There are no benefits for this position, and interns are responsible for their housing, food, and medical insurance.
A 54-week vet tech internship is available to graduates of an accredited vet tech program who want to specialize in anesthesia, critical care, or emergency medicine. Core and elective rotations take from one to three weeks each. Overnight and weekend rotations are also part of the program.
The internship includes an annual salary, health benefits, and ten days of paid time off (PTO). Housing is the responsibility of the intern. While this program is on pause for 2022, they will be accepting interns for 2023.
Ethos Veterinary Health has a network of veterinary hospitals across the US. They have a specially designed program to help train talented veterinary staff, including an outstanding vet tech internship.
This internship is intended for recent graduates of accredited vet tech programs and features rotations that last over a year. Core and elective rotations and an overnight rotation are also part of the program. Interns will also be on-call and work over holidays as a regular vet tech might.
With over 150 years of combined equine veterinary experience, the staff at Littleton Equine Medical Center is an outstanding facility prepared to educate the next generation of veterinary techs. This internship program is designed for current vet tech students who are in an accredited program and eventually want to work in a full-service equine hospital. In addition to horses, vet techs will work with cattle, goats, sheep and pigs.
Note that this center also offers veterinary internships and externships. Internship applications are generally due in early October, but may be accepted on a rolling basis.
The Hagyard Equine Medical Institute offers a dynamic, hands-on vet tech internship to students interested in equine veterinary medicine. Internships are full-time and typically run from January to June, as this is the foaling season. As one of the largest equine hospitals in the world, vet tech interns will get the opportunity to work closely with some of the most esteemed equine medical professionals in the world.
Opportunities at this institute are endless with over 6,000 surgeries performed, over 300 critically ill newborns, and 2,500 critical care cases each year. All internships are full-time and may require interns to move between different centers to provide care where it is needed the most.
The goal of the Marine Mammal Center is to provide ocean conservation through research, education, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. Interns must be in their final year or a graduate of a vet tech program. They should be interested in marine life and able to commit to a two- or three-month internship. In that time, interns will expand their knowledge about marine mammals, the ocean environment, and global conservation. Location and responsibilities can vary.
The weekly schedule includes work on animal care and husbandry, clinical lab and necropsy, and clinical rotations through areas such as administering sedatives and anesthesia.
Current students and graduates alike can intern at the Staten Island Zoo. There are several internship opportunities including nutrition, animal health, animal care, children’s center, and wildlife education. Those looking for a vet tech-specific internship can help with daily animal care and veterinary work.
Students do not need to be currently enrolled in an educational program, but it can be beneficial to be attending or have recently graduated from a field like biology, veterinary technology, zoology, or a closely related field. Students must do a minimum three-month internship and be available two full days each week.
This full-time, yearlong internship provides recent vet tech graduates the opportunity to dive into the world of wildlife medicine. Interns assist veterinarians, vet techs, and wildlife rehabilitators and learn about anatomy, anesthesia, hospital maintenance, lab analysis, radiography, the legal aspects of wildlife medicine, and more during their service. Duties can include assisting with surgery, collecting samples, making rounds, and assisting with consultations.
Applications for this program open in the fall and details about how to apply are published at that time. A living allowance and housing is provided.
White Oak Conservation Center is a center in northwestern Florida dedicated to the care and conservation of endangered and threatened species. Animals they care for include rhinoceros, okapi, bongos, zebras, condors, dama gazelles, and cheetahs.
Students in this six-month, full-time vet tech internship must have completed a vet tech program and be interested in the zoo field. Interns aid veterinarians and visiting researchers with medical exams, neonatal care, surgical procedures, and radiology. Housing and a small stipend are available. Internships are offered in the spring and summer. Interns receive a $1,466 monthly stipend and free housing. Spouses and pets are not permitted.
The Toledo Zoo is one of the top zoos in the country and they have several internship options. The most highly desirable programs are the animal enrichment and welfare ones.
Students can apply for these vet tech internships while a junior or senior in veterinary school or following graduation. Students must complete one project during their internship and work under the supervision of the Curator of Behavioral Husbandry and animal keepers.
There is no compensation or assistance with housing. Interns are expected to work 40-hour weeks. Internships are available on a first-come, first-serve basis.
This aquarium, home to more than 32,000 animals, including fish, reptiles, and monkeys, provides opportunities for those who are either currently enrolled in a vet tech program or a graduate of one. Interns primarily work in the clinics or clinical pathology, but could spend time in microbiology or environmental quality lab areas. Applicants need to commit to a minimum of four weeks and be available for at least 36 hours each week.
To apply, candidates will need to submit a letter of intent, a current resume or CV, three letters of recommendation, and availability dates between March and August. This is an unpaid internship with no housing.
There are several levels of internships at Zoo New England. Some internships are available to students with two or more years of college courses in biology, zoology, or related fields with a 2.5 GPA or higher while others are open to anyone over the age of 18.
The academic-centric internships are available throughout the year for 40 hours per week, lasting three to four months, while the more general ones can be as few as three days a week. Some students may be able to receive college credit. Responsibilities range from working with animals to providing educational programs to the public.
Students in their final year or graduates of an accredited vet tech program are invited to apply for this internship enabling them to work with injured sea turtles, as well as other native wildlife including alligators, birds, and snakes. Internships are facilitated through AmeriCorps and are six months in duration. Because the internship is AmeriCorps affiliated, interns are paid a $5,500 living allowance. Upon completion of the program participants can be awarded up to a $3,172.50 educational award.
Interns may assist in the facility’s diagnostic lab, surgery, radiology, treatment room, and more. This facility is located on beautiful Jekyll Island - a barrier island along Georgia’s southeastern coast. There is optional subsidized housing available for only $200 per month.
Interns working at Peaceful Pastures, an all-natural meat producer and supplier, learn about animal husbandry, housing, and feeding. Among other things, they will also understand how to identify and treat common ailments that may be found in cows, sheep, goats, and swine. This hands-on internship is available during the summer for those over the age of 18. Most interns complete the large animal internship, which is tailored for pre-vet and animal science students.
Peaceful Pastures provides several benefits to their interns including housing, a weekend stipend, and one meal per working day. Interns may also bring their own horse and board it in the pasture at no additional cost.
PAWS offers a twelve-week internship to students who are currently in a vet tech program. Each internship is 40 hours a week, including holidays and weekends. They are available in the spring, summer, and fall, allowing students to gain experience in different areas of wildlife rehabilitation medicine, including species identification, tube feeding, medication administration, proper animal husbandry, lab work, and more.
Students should apply as early as they can before their intended start date, as sometimes it can take a while to receive approval. Note that internships are unpaid and housing or travel assistance is not provided. For those unable to make a full-time commitment, there are limited part-time internships available during the spring and fall.
The Animal Place provides two- to three-month full-time (40 hours per week) internships for students interested in learning about animal care, particularly as related to farm animals. There are two types of internships available. The first is in animal advocacy, and the second is in animal care.
Interns learn about feeding and cleaning, assist in providing daily medication, and come to understand proper animal handling. Interns are provided housing, as well as scholarship opportunities to help cover costs for food and medical insurance. Note that interns should be in good physical health and must be at least 18 years of age.
Since 1985 the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center has offered a veterinary technician internship program. This competitive 52 week internship trains vet techs to provide the highest level of care. With over 54,000 cases a year, the AMC is one of the most highly regarded and busiest veterinary hospitals in the country. Interns are exposed to a wide variety of animals and conditions, providing them with a well rounded hands on experience.
Rotations are required through anesthesia, internal medicine, and emergency and critical care. All interns attend bi-monthly labs and lectures to further their education. Candidates must be graduates or soon to be graduates of a AVMA accredited Veterinary Technology program. Interns receive an hourly wage as part of this program.
Fossil Rim Wildlife Center has a robust internship program that emphasizes training and fostering talented young people in wildlife conservation and rehabilitation. There are two veterinary technician-specific internships. The first is for senior-level students looking to gain animal care experience. This internship is six to eight weeks long and often is filled 12 to 18 months in advance, so planning ahead is imperative. The other vet tech internship is available to those with at least one year of work experience. Both internships only take one candidate at a time.
Housing is provided, and interns receive a $300 monthly stipend. There are other internships available as well in animal care and education for those who do not have vet tech education or experience.
Vet techs who are keen to work with marine animals can apply for the aquarium medical center internship at the New England Aquarium. This internship is two full days a week for 12 to 14 weeks. In this internship, students will assist with administering medications, providing treatments, quarantine procedures, data entry, pathology, and laboratory diagnostics. Students will work with amphibians, reptiles, fish, and occasionally mammals and birds. At the end of the internship, students must produce a 15 to 30-minute presentation on an assigned project.
This is an unpaid internship and there is no housing or transportation assistance.
Kindred Spirits Veterinary Clinic is a small veterinary clinic in Orrington, Maine. They offer vet tech students in the final year of their program the opportunity to intern with them for four to six weeks at a time.
What sets Kindred Spirits apart is their unique understanding and appreciation of the bond between animals and their owners, and this informs the quality and type of care they provide. Interns at Kindred Spirits will learn all the usual vet tech skills as well as gain a strong sense of compassion and empathy.
