Careers
Veterinary Student
FAQ ON EXTERNSHIPS
- What is the optimum time to spend on an externship?
- How long does it take to get approval for an externship once I have submitted my application?
- How far in advance should I apply for an externship?
- Does VCA pay a stipend for externships?
- I would like to apply for an externship, but I don't have my dates yet. Can I fill out an application anyway and give you dates later?
- I need to do a rotation within a specific specialty. Can I get a list of all your specialists and their hospital locations?
- Can I do an official rotation in one of the specialties (and will VCA fill out a school evaluation form on me so that I get credit)?
- I am interested in the intern program at one of your hospitals. Is an externship a good way for me to get to know the program?
- I am very interested in applying for an internship at one of your hospitals and want to do an externship to get to know the Intern Director, but my schedule is full and I can only find a few days to visit the hospital - is it okay to request an externship for only a few days?
- My school has an approved list of hospitals where I may extern for school credit. The VCA hospital I want to extern at is not on the list. Will VCA fill out the form my school requires so that the hospital I am interested in can be added to the approved list and I can extern for school credit?
- How many externships can I do?
- How much veterinary medical school must I have completed to do an externship at VCA?
- Does VCA provide housing for externs?
- Do you have any suggestions for how I go about finding housing near my chosen externship hospital?
- I am a foreign veterinary student and would like to come to the United States and do an externship at one of your hospitals. Does VCA provide help with housing, transportation or travel documents?
- I am a tech student and would like to do my externship at a VCA hospital. Is this possible?
- I am a veterinary medical student and looking to earn extra money this summer and was wondering how to go about applying for a summer job.
- I am 15 years old and would like to gain experience in a veterinary hospital. Will VCA let me spend time in one of the hospitals?
- I am planning on a career in the veterinary field and would love to gain some experience in a hospital. Can I volunteer in one of VCA's hospitals?
- What is the optimum time to spend on an externship?
Two weeks is ideal. It can take the first week to get comfortable within a hospital and really know your way around on your own. Four weeks is great at our smaller hospitals, but the larger internship hospitals can usually only host a student for two weeks maximum during busy periods (January, June through December).
Back to top - How long does it take to get approval for an externship once I have submitted my application?
It can take anywhere from one day to several weeks. It depends on how busy the hospital is and how often they are processing applications.
Back to top - How far in advance should I apply for an externship?
You should apply for an externship as soon as you have dates. Intern hospitals will generally fill up their summer schedule by early spring.
Back to top - Does VCA pay a stipend for externships?
No, VCA does not pay a stipend.
Back to top - I would like to apply for an externship, but I don't have my dates yet. Can I fill out an application anyway and give you dates later?
No. The hospital needs dates in order to check their schedule and ensure that they have the space to offer a positive externship experience. They will only approve requests with specific dates.
Back to top - I need to do a rotation within a specific specialty. Can I get a list of all your specialists and their hospital locations?
Yes. Email your request to extern@vcahospitals.com and you will be sent a list of all VCA Specialists and their locations.
Back to top - Can I do an official rotation in one of the specialties (and will VCA fill out a school evaluation form on me so that I get credit)?
Yes, you can do a specialty rotation and your mentor will fill out your school evaluation form and send it in to your school.
Back to top - I am interested in the intern program at one of your hospitals. Is an externship a good way for me to get to know the program?
Yes, an externship is the best way to check out the intern program at any of our hospitals. An externship allows you the ability to see for yourself if the program is a good fit for you and enables you to establish a relationship with the Intern Director (important during match).
Back to top - I am very interested in applying for an internship at one of your hospitals and want to do an externship to get to know the Intern Director, but my schedule is full and I can only find a few days to visit the hospital - is it okay to request an externship for only a few days?
You can request any amount of time to visit a hospital.
Back to top - My school has an approved list of hospitals where I may extern for school credit. The VCA hospital I want to extern at is not on the list. Will VCA fill out the form my school requires so that the hospital I am interested in can be added to the approved list and I can extern for school credit?
Yes - just let us know when you submit your externship application that you need the school form filled out and we will take care of it.
Back to top - How many externships can I do?
You can do as many externships in VCA hospitals as your schedule will allow. You will need to fill out an extern application for each different hospital or date request.
Back to top - How much veterinary medical school must I have completed to do an externship at VCA?
You must have completed at least one year of medical school to do an externship. You may process an extern application for approval while you are in your first year that is set to take place after completion of the first year.
Back to top - Does VCA provide housing for externs?
While most of our hospitals do not include housing, there are a few that do offer housing. Ask for a list when applying for your externship. Please note that VCA Veterinary Referral and Emergency Center in Norwalk, CT, is the only internship hospital with housing available.
Back to top - Do you have any suggestions for how I go about finding housing near my chosen externship hospital?
Email your hospital extern coordinator contact at the hospital once you are approved and ask for housing recommendations.
Back to top - I am a foreign veterinary student and would like to come to the United States and do an externship at one of your hospitals. Does VCA provide help with housing, transportation or travel documents?
You are responsible for all necessary travel documents, transportation, living and housing expenses.
Back to top - I am a tech student and would like to do my externship at a VCA hospital. Is this possible?
VCA does not currently have a formal extern program for tech students. You can contact the Hospital Manager of any hospital directly and explain your needs. It is up to each individual hospital if they feel they can provide you with the experience you are looking for. I am a veterinary medical student and looking to earn extra money this summer and was wondering how to go about applying for a summer job. Contact the Hospital Manager of your chosen hospital directly and inquire if they will be hiring for the summer.
Back to top - I am a veterinary medical student and looking to earn extra money this summer and was wondering how to go about applying for a summer job.
Contact the Hospital Manager of your chosen hospital directly and inquire if they will be hiring for the summer.
Back to top - I am 15 years old and would like to gain experience in a veterinary hospital. Will VCA let me spend time in one of the hospitals?
You need to go to your local VCA hospital to find out if they have volunteer positions available.
Back to top - I am planning on a career in the veterinary field and would love to gain some experience in a hospital. Can I volunteer in one of VCA's hospitals?
If you are not a veterinary medical student and would like to volunteer in one of our hospitals or request time to shadow a doctor, you must contact the Hospital Manager directly of whichever hospital interests you and see if they have space available.
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