Pre-Veterinary Internship Opportunities: A Comprehensive Guide for Aspiring Veterinarians

For undergraduate students eager to delve into the world of veterinary medicine, internships offer an invaluable pathway to gain practical experience, bolster resumes, and explore potential career trajectories. Veterinary internships provide firsthand exposure to clinical work, research, and animal care practices, allowing students to make informed decisions about their future education and career paths. These experiences bridge the gap between academic knowledge and real-world application, fostering technical and interpersonal skills under the guidance of seasoned professionals.

The Value of Pre-Veterinary Internships

Internships are a valuable way to engage in a field outside of college. Whether your interests lie in small animal care, wildlife conservation, animal rehabilitation, or veterinary research, an internship can help solidify your aspirations and provide a competitive edge. Veterinary internships typically involve mentorship, fieldwork, and/or opportunities to gain hands-on experience in real-world veterinary practices.

Pre-vet internships can help you earn the veterinary hours that you will list on your VMCAS (the vet school application). They can also help you get to know a vet who can write your recommendation letter for vet school and get to try out new aspects of a veterinary career and see if they might be a good fit for you.

And, of course, if you can’t wait to be a vet, you might just feel like you can’t wait to get more experience, start learning more, and start helping animals!

Some of the most important criteria for students applying to vet school include experience in the field, communication skills and references from veterinarians. By participating in our pre-vet internship, you may get all 3 and more!

Finding the Right Internship

Looking for pre-vet internships can be frustrating! Here are ten ideas for where you can start your search to find pre-vet internships abroad or at home.

Talk to vet clinics in your area. Prepare a cover letter and resume and visit some clinics in your area to drop off a copy and ask if you can do some shadowing. If you don’t hear back, follow up! Most veterinarians understand that pre-vet internships are important, and they are often willing to help out.
Join a pre-vet club. If your school has a pre-vet club, make sure that you’re a member! Your club can be a great asset for pre-vet internships and for sharing opportunities, so be sure to ask.
Talk to your pre-vet advisor. Your pre-vet advisor may have a list of local vets who accept interns or may have suggestions as to who you can contact. It’s definitely worth asking!
Join a pre-vet internships abroad program. Programs such as Loop Abroad offer the opportunity to join programs targeted toward pre-vet students and work under the supervision of a vet to learn new skills. Many times, your school will grant course or internship credit for such a program, and you’ll also earn your veterinary hours in a fun setting. Pre vet internships abroad can be a great option if you want to explore working with animals that are uncommon in the US, gain international experience, or have a guaranteed experience during a set period of time.
Reach out to nearby farms, zoos, and sanctuaries. Remember that vet clinic aren’t the only game in town! Look for other nearby organizations or facilities that may be able to offer pre-vet internships and get in touch!
Join social media groups for pre-vet students. Pre vet internships may post availability in these groups.
Reach out to your contacts. Don’t forget to ask the people you know. Your friends’ parents and your parents’ friends can be great assets to you!
Consider opportunities outside your school location. Remember that where you go to school isn’t the only place you can look for pre-vet internships. Think about opportunities you see or contacts you might have in other towns or cities and consider spending your break elsewhere to take advantage of a great opportunity.
Contact veterinary professors at your school. It’s always worth touching base with professors in your major and letting them know you are looking for pre-vet internships and would appreciate any contacts they can give you.
Organize a group for internships abroad. If you’re interested in pre-vet internships abroad, think about talking to your pre-vet club to see if you’d be able to put together a group of students to participate together. Traveling as a group can make the experience more fun, and it can also be free for the student organizing the group.

When it comes to looking for pre-vet internships, it pays to be organized and plan ahead! By now you know that getting into vet school is highly competitive.

Featured Internship Programs

Here are some examples of veterinary internships for undergraduates:

1. Purdue Veterinary Scholars Summer Research Program

Location: Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine, West Lafayette, IN
Cost/Stipend: \$4,500 stipend for undergraduates
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: May 27 - August 5
Application deadline: February 7
Eligibility: Undergraduate students with an interest in veterinary or biomedical research

This 11-week summer program is designed for students interested in exploring research-focused careers within the field of veterinary medicine. As a participant, you will work with a faculty mentor to develop and conduct an independent research project and attend weekly seminars on ethics, lab animal medicine, careers in academia and government, and clinical trials, among other topics. The program also includes group activities such as visits to pharmaceutical companies and peer networking events. The program also offers exposure to research environments and scientific inquiry within the veterinary field. You will prepare an abstract and poster on your summer research project and present your findings to the PVM faculty.

2. Ladder University Internship Program

Location: Virtual
Cost/Stipend: Varies; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 8- to 12-week cohorts throughout the year, including in summer, winter, fall, and spring
Application deadline: August 24 for the upcoming cohort; multiple cohorts run every year
Eligibility: High school students, undergraduates, and gap year students who can work for 10 to 20 hours/week

This virtual internship places students in early-stage, fast-growing startups in fields like health tech and medicine. You will work on real projects under the guidance of your assigned manager and a Ladder Coach, gaining practical experience while contributing to a live company environment. Past host startups have included founders backed by Y Combinator and top-tier tech firms. You will also receive one-on-one mentoring in skills like communication and time management, and participate in cohort-wide group training sessions. At the end of the program, you will present your work directly to the company team.

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3. VCA Animal Hospitals Internships

Here, you will shadow veterinarians and veterinary technicians while gaining exposure to various clinical roles. The program combines in-clinic experience with virtual group sessions led by practice leaders and industry professionals. You will also receive mentorship from local doctors and market leaders.

4. Penn Vet Working Dog Center Internship

Location: University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small, competitive cohort
Dates: June - August (10-week commitment)
Application deadline: March 28
Eligibility: All college students and recent graduates who are at least 18 years old

This internship provides undergraduates with experience in the training and care of scent detection dogs at a leading academic facility. You will assist with daily training sessions, data collection, enrichment activities, and health monitoring for working dogs in training. The program also offers opportunities to learn about canine fitness, behavior research, and performance medicine. You will work alongside a multidisciplinary team of veterinarians, trainers, and researchers.

5. UC Davis Summer Enrichment Program (SEP)

Location: University of California-Davis, School of Veterinary Medicine, Davis, CA
Stipend: \$750
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 25 - July 25
Application deadline: March 7
Eligibility: Undergraduate students (18+), from disadvantaged backgrounds, with at least one year of completed biology or chemistry and a minimum 3.0 GPA

This full-time, four-week program is designed to help strengthen your veterinary school application through direct academic and clinical exposure. Each weekday, you will spend mornings in clinical rotations and afternoons engaging in lectures, workshops, and site visits. You will engage in tasks like practicing suturing techniques, learning safe animal handling, and participating in discussions about veterinary careers. You will also gain insights into specialties like equine health and wildlife medicine while interacting with faculty, staff, and current veterinary students. In workshops, you will get college application prep guidance, which covers personal essay writing, course selection, and interviews.

6. Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital Undergraduate Internship

Location: Washington State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Pullman, WA
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Small cohort
Dates: Begins each Spring semester; minimum three-semester commitment
Application deadline: Spring application window: October - November (internship begins in January) | Fall application deadline: April 11 (internship starts in August)
Eligibility: Undergraduate students at WSU or the University of Idaho pursuing pre-veterinary studies; preference given to sophomores and juniors

The Veterinary Teaching Hospital Undergraduate Internship places you in clinical rotations, including departments like small and large animal medicine, oncology, exotics, anesthesia, and more. As an intern, you will commit approximately six hours per week during the academic semester, observing and assisting with patient care tasks in various hospital units. As you progress, you will experience advanced rotations and eventually mentor incoming interns. The experience is designed to help you become familiar with hospital operations, clinical protocols, and veterinary specialties through sustained, hands-on exposure.

7. Smithsonian National Zoo & Conservation Biology Institute Internships: Primate Animal Keeper Internship

Location: Smithsonian’s National Zoo, Washington, D.C.
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: September - December (Fall Session)
Application deadline: July 14
Eligibility: College juniors, seniors, or recent graduates pursuing a related field

This internship can offer you direct experience in primate care at the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. You will assist keepers with daily husbandry tasks-cleaning enclosures, preparing enrichment, and monitoring animal behavior. A commitment of three days a week, including one weekend day, is required. The program offers the opportunity to engage in a small behavior-focused project and get some exposure to USDA and AZA standards. You will also learn the basics of operant conditioning, animal enrichment, and zoo safety protocols.

8. Seneca Park Zoo Pre-Veterinary Internship

Location: Seneca Park Zoo, Rochester, NY
Stipend: \$750 per week; housing not provided
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly competitive; one fellow selected annually
Dates: Four weeks between May and August
Application deadline: February 28
Eligibility: Pre-vet undergraduates with at least two years of coursework completed, a minimum 3.0 GPA, and 100+ hours of veterinary experience with companion or food animals

This four-week internship introduces you to exotic animal medicine and zoo-based conservation through a structured, hands-on program. You will rotate through the zoo’s various animal care areas, working with species such as marine mammals, primates, carnivores, birds, and reptiles, to understand husbandry routines and behavioral observations. You will work with veterinary staff, assisting them in conducting clinical rounds, surgeries, necropsies, and preventive care procedures. Each week, you will dedicate time to a research project developed with the zoo’s lead veterinarian and submit findings to the Zoo Animal Hospital Library. In addition to clinical and research experience, the program can offer insights into welfare, diagnostics, and preventive health in a zoo setting.

9. Fossil Rim Animal Discoveries Internship

Location: Fossil Rim Wildlife Center, Glen Rose, TX
Stipend: \$300/month + free on-site shared housing
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Spring: January - May; Summer: May - August; Fall: August - December
Application deadline: October 1 (Spring); March 1 (Summer); June 1 (Fall)
Eligibility: College students or recent graduates who are 21 or older and have at least two years of undergraduate coursework in wildlife science, biology, or related fields

This full-time internship gives you hands-on animal care experience with both domestic and exotic species in a public education setting. You will be involved in both animal-focused tasks and guest engagement as an intern, getting detailed insights into zoo and wildlife education work. You will also spend time engaging in outdoor tasks in extreme weather conditions. You will work with a range of animals-goats, tortoises, pigs, parrots, reptiles, black-footed cats, and more-and assist with daily tasks involving husbandry, enrichment, training, and medical observation. The internship also offers educational outreach opportunities, through which you will deliver exhibit talks, assist with biofact tables, work with volunteers on animal care and public education projects, and interact with visitors as a representative of the animal care team.

10. Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary Veterinary & Orphan Care Internship

Location: Alturas Wildlife Sanctuary, Alturas, CA
Cost/Stipend: Not specified; on-site lodging available.
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Highly selective; accepts just two interns
Dates: Rolling intake; minimum 1-month commitment required
Application deadline: No fixed deadline; early application recommended due to limited spots
Eligibility: Students who are 18+, currently studying or graduated in a veterinary-related field, and have clinical experience as well as at least two educational/professional references

This internship provides practical, hands-on experience in wildlife medicine within a rehabilitation setting. During your time at the sanctuary, you will shadow veterinary staff and support the daily care of rescued animals. In your first month, you will assist with feeding neonates, observe triage, surgeries, and necropsies, help administer medications, and maintain care logs. You will also contribute to enrichment, diet prep, and husbandry for species in recovery. If you choose to stay longer, you may find opportunities to build advanced skills like bandaging, catheter insertion, and fluid therapy, as well as participate in supervised surgical procedures and physiotherapy. Educational lectures and workshops are also part of the experience.

11. Blue Ridge Wildlife Center Wildlife Rehabilitation Summer Internship

Location: Blue Ridge Wildlife Center, Boyce, VA
Stipend: \$100/week for part-time interns and participants opting for housing | \$200/week for full-time interns without housing
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 12-week summer program; May - August
Application deadline: March 1
Eligibility: College students who are 18+

This internship immerses you in wildlife triage and rehabilitation during the center’s busiest season, offering hands-on training in species identification, disease and toxin recognition, and safe animal handling. You will assist with animal husbandry tasks, including feeding, cleaning enclosures, and preparing diets, and develop biosecurity protocols. You will also observe and assist a wildlife veterinarian with treatment and diagnostic procedures. Through daily casework and guided mentorship, you may build foundational skills in wildlife care and learn about veterinary-adjacent practices during the internship.

12. Zoo Miami’s Zoo Hospital Clinical Internship

Location: Zoo Miami, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 16-week commitment involving 600+ hours of work; Spring: January - April | Summer: May - August | Fall: September - December
Application deadline: Summer: February 15 | Fall: June 15 | Spring: October 15
Eligibility: Students who are 18+, recent college graduates, or currently enrolled in college

If you are looking to explore veterinary medicine in a zoological setting, this internship places you directly within Zoo Miami’s animal health team. You will shadow veterinarians, vet techs, and clinical staff as they carry out diagnostic procedures, treatments, surgeries, and case management. Work takes place in the on-site hospital and is structured like a full-time clinical rotation, running Monday to Friday from 8 am to 5 pm. The program also includes seminars with zoo professionals to deepen your understanding of zoo medicine, wildlife care, and veterinary careers.

13. Zoo Miami’s Sea Turtle Hospital Internship

Location: Zoo Miami, Miami, FL
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: 16-week commitment; Summer: May - August | Fall: September - December | Spring: January - April
Application deadline: Summer: February 15 | Fall: June 15 | Spring: October 15
Eligibility: Recent college graduates and current college students who are 18+

As a Zoo Miami Sea Turtle Hospital intern, you will be part of the rehabilitation team working to treat and release injured or sick sea turtles. You will assist with animal feeding, enrichment, water quality checks, tank maintenance, and biosecurity protocols. You may also get to observe veterinary procedures and assist with hospital operations. While direct medical handling is limited, the internship offers exposure to marine animal care and veterinary support tasks.

14. North Carolina Zoo’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Internship

Location: North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro, North Carolina
Cost/Stipend: Unpaid; on-site housing available (free for 12-week interns, reduced fee for 10-week interns)
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Year-round; 10-week option: 200 hours (3 days/week + training) | 12-week option: 360 hours (5 days/week + training)
Application deadline: July 2 (Fall session)
Eligibility: Undergraduate students or recent gradu…

15. APHIS Career Experience (ACE) program

The APHIS Career Experience (ACE) program is a unique student internship opportunity that combines on-the-job technical training with leadership and professional development. ACE interns form a cohort of peers across academic and career tracks, learning and collaborating together throughout the year-long program. ACE is specifically designed to prepare successful interns for permanent positions within the agency after graduation.

ACE is open to rising college sophomore and junior students who are in good academic standing. Interns will work full time through the summer and continue working at least 16 hours a week through graduation.

Applicants will need current transcripts and proof of enrollment, a USAJOBS account, resume, and any veterans’ documents.

International Opportunities

Our 2 and 4 week pre-vet internships will give you the experience and tools necessary to set you apart from other candidates and prepare you to get into the school you desire. Follow our vets as they treat sick and injured wildlife, and gain insight into the work of our wildlife rescue center and reintroduction program. Over that time, our vets will get the chance to know you. Each participant gets a certificate of completion, and if you really shine you can request a recommendation letter for vet school.

At the rescue center, students will shadow and may assist in emergency procedures and necessary surgeries (in particular during our castration campaign). Students will learn skills such as proper restraint techniques for mammals, birds and reptiles, how to perform physical exams and hands-off evaluations, identify and treat parasites, administer fluids, perform necropsies, as well as learn suturing, wound care and how to identify stages of healing. Patient rounds may be conducted along with topic discussions and presentations. In our summer sessions, we often have additional vet professors visiting us to share their knowledge. We find that having the chance to learn from various vets gives a more well-rounded experience and helps prepare you for vet school interviews. There are lectures, practical lab sessions and demonstrations, as well as educational field trips throughout the program. Among other things, students gain a deeper knowledge of what conservation medicine is and how it differs from exotic and zoo medicine, what role a veterinarian plays in conservation, and when and how animals can return to the wild.

Animals that we often have in care are the golden mantled howler monkey, white faced capuchin monkey, collared anteater, white-nosed coati, kinkajou, agouti, lowland paca, spotted skunk, northern raccoon, nine-banded armadillo, white-tailed deer, variegated squirrel, Mexican hairy porcupine, woolly and common opossum, and a variety of birds. We also host a free-to-the-community spay and neuter campaign to help control the local dog and cat population, which threatens wildlife daily.

Please note: A wildlife rescue center does not see the high volume of cases common in small animal practice. Your experience is dictated by the number and type of cases that arrive. As a result some sessions may involve more time spent on the clinical aspects and some sessions may lean toward the theoretical. However all sessions will encompass a mixture of both. While we cannot guarantee which animal species or clinical cases you will encounter, our facility generally houses 40-70 animals at any given time, with the possibility that these animals may require special care or evaluation.

Additionally, the program experience may vary based on the number of students within your session and the program length you choose. Smaller sessions, such as those outside of the months during which most undergraduate institutions are on break, allow for a more intimate experience. Please keep this in mind when choosing which session you wish to participate in.

Wild Sun Rescue Center

Wild Sun began reintroducing Scarlet Macaws to the southern Nicoya Peninsula in February 2019.

Fun Activities

We'll also take the time out to take advantage of some of the natural wonders of Costa Rica! Be they waterfalls, ocean voyages or beautiful sunsets, adventure awaits. Each session is slightly different but most weeks you will go on one academic field trip and one fun field trip.

4-week Program fee: \$8,450* USD (25% deposit required to reserve) * \$500 early bird discount for 2027 summer sessions until Dec 31, 2026
2-week Program fee: \$4,415* USD (25% deposit required to reserve)

Many of our students receive grants and scholarships to attend from their schools. Please check with your student affairs and study abroad offices for what is available.

***Includes: Poolside Shared Deluxe Accommodations with A/C, private bath with hot water showers, mini fridge, digital safe, flat screen with free streaming tv, ocean view, and patio. Maximum 3 people per room. Professional meal plan including 3 meals a day Sunday through Friday plus breakfast on Saturdays.

Projects Abroad

At Projects Abroad, our first aim is to benefit the animals we work with. You can be assured that our vet internships for undergraduates are ethical and well supported. Throughout your internship, you’ll work with professionals. You’ll observe them in their everyday work, ask questions, and hear more about their experiences. You’ll have our staff support at all times. All our programs are well researched, targeted, and sustainable. We aim to make a difference to the local community for the long term.

I was so surprised at how much the horses could help with so many disabilities. The calming affect they had on everyone who rode them was inexplicable. They also helped with motor exercises, getting more in touch with human emotions and, overall, the happiness. The children counted down the days until they got to ride again and you could see the difference it made for them.

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