Banfield Pet Hospital Internship: NextVet Program Requirements and Opportunities

Banfield Pet Hospital is committed to nurturing the next generation of veterinary professionals. Through various programs, including the NextVet internship, externships, and student job programs, Banfield provides students with invaluable hands-on experience, mentorship, and financial support to help them succeed in their veterinary careers.

NextVet Internship Program

The NextVet internship program is a paid summer internship designed for students aged 16 and older who are interested in exploring the veterinary field. This program offers a unique opportunity to work alongside experienced hospital teams, gain hands-on skills, and learn about the ins and outs of caring for patients and clients.

Program Overview

Banfield Pet Hospital is now accepting applications for its NextVet internship program for the third year. This initiative underscores Mars Petcare’s commitment to building a stronger future for pet professionals by helping to strengthen and diversify the veterinary pipeline amid the industry’s ongoing workforce shortage. The program invites students 16 years of age or older from multiple cities across the United States to spend their summer learning what it is like to work in veterinary medicine.

Locations

Thirty students from various cities across the United States will have the chance to participate in this paid program, according to Banfield Pet Hospital. These cities include:

Atlanta
Baltimore
Chicago
Dallas
Denver
Houston
Jacksonville
Kansas City
Los Angeles
Philadelphia
Phoenix
Portland-Vancouver
Raleigh
San Diego
San Francisco
Washington DC

Benefits of the NextVet Program

Hands-on Experience: Interns work directly with Banfield Hospital teams to gain a better understanding of patient and client care.
Mentorship: Students receive support and coaching from experienced hospital teams, addressing a critical need in the veterinary industry. You’ll work under a Banfield doctor, a coach who will guide you through real-world challenges.
Networking: The program enables students to make connections and build relationships with like-minded individuals in the veterinary field.
Career Advancement: Many NextVet alumni have gone on to veterinary school or are currently working at Banfield in different roles.
Paid Position: The positions are temporary and part-time, starting at $15 per hour with flexible hours. This provides valuable paid work experience while learning first-hand about the veterinary profession.

Eligibility and Application

Any interested students aged 16 and older can apply for the NextVet internship. The application process involves submitting a brief video to introduce themselves to Banfield and completing an application.

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NextVet Success Stories

Riannah (2023 NextVet Intern): "NextVet enabled me to make connections and learn hands-on skills that I wouldn’t have been able to get anywhere else. I’ve made lifelong friends with teammates who share like-minded goals, and who push me to reach those goals by being people I can look up to. I’m so happy with where I’m at in my veterinary career journey and am so excited to continue to grow and learn with Banfield."
Shelby (Veterinary Assistant and 2023 NextVet Intern): Shelby is completing her second year at Duke University and is using the veterinary skills she learned alongside the Banfield Uptown team in New York to help shape her degree focus. Shelby has the exciting opportunity to work with the Duke Canine Cognition Center and is currently working on an individualized degree program and graduation with distinction research, which she hopes will be a culmination of her passion for companion animal medicine and intellectual curiosity.
Sarah (Upcoming Houston, Texas Intern): "Growing up, I never saw a Latino veterinarian. It inspired me to become one and to increase representation in the field, especially in a diverse city like Houston where Latinos are a significant population. I've observed language barriers in underserved areas, which creates challenges between doctors and pet owners. I know it would mean the world to pet owners everywhere to have a veterinarian who speaks their language, understands their culture, and shares their experiences."
Erandy (Upcoming Tempe, AZ Intern): Erandy, a member of Boys & Girls Clubs, will be joining Banfield's Tempe, AZ hospital this summer after learning about the opportunity through Boys & Girls Clubs of the Valley's AZYouthforce program.

Diversity and Inclusion

NextVet demonstrates Banfield’s larger commitment to creating a more diverse and inclusive profession by opening doors for students from all backgrounds to explore a career in veterinary medicine. Banfield is also continuing its national partnership with Boys & Girls Clubs of America, which allows veterinarians and veterinary technicians to engage K-12 students from underrepresented backgrounds through career outreach events, according to the company.

A Look at the 2024 Class

Banfield Pet Hospital recently welcomed its 2024 class of interns, which consist of 30 students across the nation. This year, more than 500 applications were received for NextVet, resulting in the careful selection of 30 interns who will apply their passion for animals and eagerness to learn throughout the summer.

Other Student Programs

Student Job Program (SJP)

The Student Job Program is a unique program designed for non-clinical-year veterinary students who want to experience real-world learning in a clinical setting. Under the supervision of your coach doctor and in accordance with the state's practice act, you will work as a veterinary assistant in a supportive team environment.

Program Details:* Intended for non-clinical-year veterinary students.

Focuses on the development of technical skills.
Participants spend approximately 80% of their time working in a role that parallels that of a Veterinary Assistant position.
Students are eligible for one Optimum Wellness plan (OWP) upon date of hire.
Associates receive discounts for purchases made at PetSmart, the Canine Genetic Analysis (CGA), and up to 50% off Royal Canine diets.
It is possible for students to continue to work for their hospital once their program has ended!

DVM Externship Program

Through Banfield's DVM Externship Program, we’re here to support you as you move forward in your career. As a student in your clinical rotations, you’ll get the opportunity to work alongside a team of Banfield professionals and participate in all aspects of patient care. You can think of yourself as a doctor in training. Participants in the Externship Program experience the typical caseload of a small animal practice.

Program Details:* Intended for veterinary students in their clinical year.

Assumes the role of a doctor in training.
Provides exposure to the typical caseload of a small animal practice.

Veterinary Technician Student Program

The Veterinary Technician Student Program is designed for students currently enrolled in an AVMA/CVTEA-accredited Veterinary Technology program and authorized to work in the United States. Participants will be paired with a credentialed coach who will guide and support them through patient visits, and they’ll get exposure to the daily life of being a credentialed veterinary technician at Banfield, where they can work at the top of their license. Take part in clinical procedures and gain firsthand veterinary experience and knowledge by shadowing your coach veterinarian or veterinary technician. While placements typically range from 2 to 12 weeks, we will work with students to ensure needs are met in terms of duration. Schedules will include days, evenings, and weekends.

Benefits for Students

Banfield offers a broad scope of learning opportunities, ranging from dentistry exposure to communication skills essential for success. Providing quality care is our primary focus, which is why we equip our hospital teams with state-of-the-art equipment and the highest quality medicine to do so. We also encourage our associates to share when new or alternative equipment or methods are needed, so we can make sure each location is optimally equipped. We know how burdening student debt can be coming out of veterinary school, which is why Banfield offers a Student Debt Relief Program, to take some of the pressure of paying back loans, so you can focus on doing what you love.

Student Debt Relief Program

New Banfield DVMs are eligible to receive a one-time $4,000 payment for each qualifying Banfield student job program or externship they participate in before graduating, up to $16,000 (or four Externships, SJPs, or a combination). This amount will be paid directly towards the associate’s student loans on their one-year anniversary, not paid out as a bonus or otherwise reflected in a paycheck.

Additional Opportunities

Behind-the-Scenes Hospital Tour or Unpaid Job Shadow/Observation Experience

For those whose applications for the NextVet class of 2025 are closed, Banfield encourages students to consider a behind-the-scenes hospital tour or an unpaid job shadow/observation experience. Students can reach out directly to Banfield hospitals in their vicinity to inquire if any of them may be available to host them. However, due to staffing shortages, some hospitals may not be in a position to host students at this time.

Paid Positions for Students Age 16+

Banfield also offers paid positions for students age 16+. These opportunities are available across the country. You can find those by entering the relevant job title and location information in the search window at the top of this page. The most common entry-level position in our hospitals is Pet Care Assistant, but you may qualify for other roles even if you have limited experience working with animals!

Banfield Pet Academy®

NextVet is an extension of Banfield Pet Academy®, a program established 15 years ago to inspire future veterinary professionals by introducing them to veterinarians and veterinary technicians in their community. Since its launch, the program has reached more than 100,000 kids, with a record 11,000 youth impacted in 2023. Banfield has made all 3 editions of its Banfield Pet Academy curriculum-designed for elementary, middle, and high school students-available at no cost to the entire industry.

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Banfield Pet Hospital: A Commitment to the Future of Veterinary Medicine

Banfield Pet Hospital was founded in Portland, Ore. in 1955 and today is a pioneer in preventive veterinary care with more than 1,000 general veterinary hospitals in 42 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and Mexico. More than 3,600 Banfield veterinarians are committed to providing high-quality veterinary care to over three million pets annually. As part of the Mars Veterinary Health family of practices, Banfield is committed to its purpose - A BETTER WORLD FOR PETS - because pets make a better world for us.

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