Completing an internship is an essential part of any veterinary technology program. Internships provide veterinary technician students with the skills and experience they need to obtain employment in an animal hospital, clinic or other facility that provides veterinary care to animals.
If you are looking for a facility to fulfill your internship requirements, why not choose one that will be fun as well as educational?
The following facilities offer some exciting twists on the traditional vet tech internship, and even if these facilities are not located near you, they can give you a good idea of what is available today.
Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society operates a no-kill animal sanctuary in Kanab, Utah. For veterinary technicians who are interested in working in an animal welfare setting, this facility makes a great place to perform an internship. For you to be eligible for this internship, you must be at least 20 years old, a current student in an approved vet tech program and have at least six months of experience working with animals.
During this fun and exciting program, you will obtain hands-on experience performing such procedures as drawing blood, placing catheters, taking x-rays, laboratory tests and assisting with surgery. If you are interested in this internship and would like more information, you can download an application from the Best Friends website.
PAWS Wildlife Center
PAWS Wildlife Center cares for more than 3,000 wild animals each year at their rehabilitation center and hospital located in Lynnwood, Washington. Typically, these animals represent over 170 species that include carnivores, urban wildlife, raptors and marine life. Each year, the center accepts applications from vet techs who are interested in their wildlife internship program.
If you would like to apply for an internship with PAWs, you can find all of the information you need on the PAWS Wildlife Center website. For this internship, you must be attending an approved vet tech program, submit three letters of recommendation, your college/university transcripts and a short essay.
The Birmingham Zoo
The Birmingham Zoo in Alabama houses more than 700 animals of about 250 different species. Some of the animals you will find here include African elephants, giraffes, African wild dogs, Sumatran orangutans and saddle-billed storks. Each year, the zoo offers unique internships to vet tech students or recent graduates.
As an intern, you will gain valuable knowledge in such areas as preventative medicine, laboratory diagnostics, pathology and quarantine. In you are interested in applying for an internship with the Birmingham Zoo, you will need to call the zoo at 205-879-0409 or email them at choskinson@birminghamzoo.com.
Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo
There are more than 1,000 animals in the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo located in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Some of the amazing animals you will find here are red pandas, American alligators, Sumatran tigers and African lions. If you are interested in becoming a vet tech specializing in zoo animals, the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo has the perfect internship for you.
For you to be eligible for an internship with the zoo, you should be enrolled in an approved vet tech program and have an interest in zoo animals. You must also obtain a tuberculin test, and it is recommended for you to obtain a hepatitis B, tetanus and rabies vaccination. You can download an application from the Fort Wayne Children’s Zoo website.
The Wildlife Center of Virginia
The Wildlife Center of Virginia, which is located in Waynesboro, offers various internship opportunities to veterinary technicians who are interested in working with wildlife. During your internship with the center, you will obtain hands-on training in such areas as animal husbandry, surgery prep, radiology, cytology and record-keeping.
Internships are on a first-come, first-serve basis, and if you would like to apply, you can find the information you need on the Wildlife Center of Virginia website. Along with your application, you will also need to submit three letters of recommendation and a short essay explaining your career goals.
Rood Riddle Equine Hospital
Located in Saratoga Springs in New York, Rood Riddle Equine Hospital offers internships to vet techs who have an interest in working with horses. During an internship with Rood Riddle, you will participate in various hands-on activities such as taking x-rays, performing lab tests, assisting in surgery and various other procedures.
For you to be eligible for this program, you must be enrolled in an approved veterinary technician program. There is a limited amount of on-site housing for interns, and you will need to reserve space when you submit your application. You can find all the information you need for this program on the Rood Riddle website.
Georgia Sea Turtle Center
Do you want to work with marine life after you graduate? If so, why not consider applying for an internship with the Georgia Sea Turtle Center? The Georgia Sea Turtle Center, which is located on the lovely Jekyll Island in Georgia, offers a vet tech internship program to students who are interested in working with zoo animals, wildlife or marine life.
Only two candidates will be selected each year for this program: one for the summer and one for the winter. For you to qualify for the center’s internship program, you must be in your last year of an approved veterinary technician training program. You will also need to submit three letters of recommendation and an application to the center. You can find all the information you need for the program on the internship webpage.
These are some of the most intriguing veterinary technician internships available today. Other facilities that offer exciting internships include the Wildlife Conservation Society in New York, Cape Wildlife Center in Massachusetts, the Dallas Zoo, the John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago and Sea Life Park in Hawaii.