Veterinary Technician Internships

Like most professionals involved in healthcare, Veterinary Technicians require more than just formal education in order to become licensed and certified to practice their trade. The American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA) requires candidates for licensure to obtain real-world experience prior to being eligible to apply for certification.

This practice is commonly known as veterinary technician internships. Some call it practicum or externships, depending on the facility, and depending on where the actual hands-on experience is accomplished.

Prior to graduating from a degree in Veterinary Technology, or right after graduation, a candidate will have to undergo an internship program, which may be offered by the school. In some cases, these will have to be taken outside of the school premises, depending on whether the facility has enough capacity to take in interns.

Requirements

Most internship programs will require that an applicant be a recent graduate of an AVMA-accredited academic program. In some cases, though, interns will be accepted even prior to graduation (such as in the case of four-year degree courses). Some internship programs will also accept more experienced veterinary technicians as interns.

If you’re interested in undergoing internships, you are not limited to private veterinary clinic practices. Most veterinary technicians are able to practice their profession in these following fields.

• Private practices – Private clinics or animal hospitals are traditionally the mainstay of veterinary technician internships. This will involve rotating shifts that vary in responsibility, such as emergency care, radiology, surgery, anesthesia, dermatology, neurology, and the like. In larger facilities, interns may also be rotated through different departments, such as rehabilitation, nutrition, avian care, and such.

• Zoos – Zoos and facilities that contain animals are also regularly in need of veterinary technicians. Staff in these places provide care to animals, which are mostly either wild animals transplanted to a caged setting, or wild animals born in captivity. A zoo’s veterinary doctor and veterinary technician ensure that animals are in good health. In most cases, hands-on experience gained in a zoo setting while still a student is called an externship, while academic knowledge can also be studied in this setting, through a preceptorship. Students or graduates who wish to apply for internships at zoos may get in touch directly with the zoos, or through the Association of Zoo Veterinary Technicians (AZVT).

• Research facilities – Aside from zoos and clinics, research facilities also employ veterinary technicians. This can be due to their use of animals in their research. For example, pharmaceutical companies might test medicines or treatments on animals before having these approved for human use. The same goes with cosmetics companies. In some cases, research is done for the various sciences, such as genetics or even space travel. Veterinary technicians are given the task of providing care for animals in these facilities, and making sure they are treated humanely.

• Wildlife rescue organizations – Another type of organization that accepts internships are wildlife rescue and rehabilitation groups. These groups often take in animals found injured, and provide medical care and sanctuary, where necessary.

What to expect

Students and graduates going on internships can usually expect a stipend or allowance, depending on their position, and depending on the internship program they sign up for. Prior to signing up for an internship position, you should inquire whether the facility will provide benefits, like meal allowances, and even housing provisions.

Working as an intern will afford you plenty of opportunities to learn about animal care, in various scenarios. It will also give you a glimpse of real-world situations that will challenge your skills and decision-making abilities.