Veterinary Internships for High School Students: A Comprehensive Guide

The field of veterinary medicine is both strenuous and rewarding. Many contemplate working with animals or becoming a veterinarian, but few know where to begin. Practical internships provide the opportunity to see how an animal hospital functions and to be a part of it. For high school students passionate about animal care and planning to study veterinary science, an internship before college can be invaluable.

Why Pursue a Veterinary Internship in High School?

Veterinary science or medicine requires regular hands-on interaction with animals. Early practical experience can be valuable if you’re planning a career in the field. A veterinary internship provides solid insight into the field and enhances university and job applications. Admissions and hiring committees seek candidates with practical exposure, demonstrating awareness of the field's demands and the skills to meet them. It will boost your college applications significantly, displaying passion and tenacity for your career.

A veterinary internship will give you awareness of the rewards and demands of working with animals and prepare you for your career.

What to Expect During a Veterinary Internship

Internships offer a glimpse into the daily realities of veterinary work. You will be able to shadow the veterinarian and technicians throughout a typical day and see exactly what this profession consists of. Veterinary hours, such as those accrued in our internships, can be logged to be implemented for practical hours for applicable veterinary assistant and veterinary technician academic programs.

Interns may participate in observational activities such as animal handling techniques, transcribing medical notes, setting up surgeries, preparing laboratory tests, and helping with routine physical examinations.

Types of Veterinary Careers

As a veterinarian, you could work in a veterinary clinic, caring for beloved pets like dogs, cats, and small mammals, providing essential medical treatments and surgeries. If you're drawn to farm animals, you can choose to work with cows, horses, and pigs, ensuring their health and well-being on farms. For those with a sense of adventure, specializing in exotic animals could lead to thrilling work at zoos, aquariums, or wildlife rehabilitation centers, where you care for majestic creatures like lions, elephants, and dolphins. If you're passionate about research, becoming a veterinary scientist allows you to study diseases, develop new treatments, and contribute to the advancement of animal health. No matter your interest, a career in veterinary medicine offers a world of possibilities to make a positive impact on the lives of animals.

Veterinarians can specialize in various fields, such as a small animal vet, caring for adorable pets like cats and dogs. If you have a passion for farm life, you can become a large animal vet, working with cows, horses, and other farm animals. For the wildlife enthusiasts, becoming an exotic animal vet opens doors to work with fascinating creatures in zoos and wildlife sanctuaries. If you're interested in research, you can become a veterinary scientist, studying diseases and discovering new ways to help animals.

Preparing for a Veterinary Career

No matter what age you are, it’s never too early to start the process of becoming a veterinarian. As a high school student, you can start preparing for an incredibly rewarding career as a veterinarian by focusing on science-related subjects like biology, chemistry, and physics. You can also volunteer at local animal shelters or veterinary clinics to gain hands-on experience and showcase your dedication and love for animals. Taking proactive steps during high school will help you to be fully ready for your dream of becoming a skilled and compassionate veterinarian. Unleash your potential today and embark on an extraordinary journey to create a lasting impact on the lives of animals!

High schoolers have numerous opportunities to prepare for their journey towards veterinary school. A crucial step is excelling in science-related courses like biology and chemistry, which will form a strong academic foundation. Volunteering at local animal shelters or veterinary clinics provides valuable hands-on experience and showcases their dedication to working with animals. Joining animal-related clubs and participating in science fairs can help expand their knowledge and skills. Seeking guidance from school counselors or career advisors ensures they stay on the right path and discover potential internships or mentorship programs in the veterinary field. Taking advantage of these opportunities during high school will equip them with the necessary skills and experiences to shine in their future veterinary school applications.

Start by talking to your school counselor or career advisor, who can provide information about the right courses to take and opportunities for volunteering or internships with animals. Reach out to local veterinarians or animal clinics to see if they offer shadowing experiences, allowing you to observe a vet's day-to-day work.

Featured Veterinary Internship Programs for High School Students

Finding a vet internship might not be easy in high school, which is why we’ve compiled this list of veterinary internships for high school students. These include opportunities at vet clinics, adoption and welfare centers, zoos, and more. Each internship has specific guidelines you should check before applying.

1. Banfield NextVet Internship Program

Location: Over 1,000 branches across the country
Eligibility: Specific internship criteria may vary.
Application Deadline: TBA
Dates: 6-10 weeks in the months of summer
Stipend: Minimum $15 per hour (exact rate may vary)

Banfield Pet Hospital is a renowned veterinary care provider with branches all over the country. Its NextVet Internship is a chance for high school students to learn about what a veterinary career entails from expert vets, industry professionals, and hospital teams. The internship is extremely prestigious. Interns will shadow professionals, including veterinarians as well as veterinary technicians, throughout the program. You will have the unique opportunity to witness the hospital staff as they carry out their tasks while also shadowing veterinarians and veterinary technicians. You will further receive access to virtual group sessions, support from local doctors and industry leaders, and networking opportunities with Banfield leaders.

Applications for the NextVet class of 2025 are currently closed. We encourage you to consider a behind-the-scenes hospital tour or an unpaid job shadow/observation experience. We recommend reaching out directly to Banfield hospitals in your vicinity to inquire if any of them may be available to host you. Please note the observation and tour options were introduced very recently and may not be familiar to all of our 20,000+ Associates. Due to staffing shortages, some hospitals may not be in a position to host students at this time. We also offer 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!

2. High School Internships at PAWS Chicago

Location: Medical Center and Lincoln Park Adoption Center, Chicago, IL
Eligibility: High school students who are at least 16 years old and able to commit to a recurring weekly schedule
Application Deadline: December 15 (spring) | March 15 (summer) | June 15 (fall)
Dates: January-April/May (spring) | May-September (summer) | August/September-December (fall)
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship.

PAWS Chicago runs an adoption center, training center, medical center, and outreach program. It provides a limited number of high school internships in its medical center and adoption center, making it a competitive and selective program. If selected, you will have the opportunity to assist at the centers in the form of cleaning, maintaining animal welfare, feeding and walking dogs, maintaining the shelter, and lots more. These are all essential skills and experiences you will need to move on to a rigorous study and career in veterinary science.

During the program, students will learn and assist with tasks like cleaning, feeding, walking dogs, shelter maintenance, facilitating adoption, assisting with recovery, and assisting veterinary staff with preparation and paperwork. Interns will be able to directly engage in such tasks whenever possible while observing and assisting with other more intricate jobs. Interns may also be required to help with adjacent tasks, such as welcoming guests and visitors, assisting with outreach, marketing, fundraising, graphic design, and more.

Read also: Becoming a Veterinary Assistant

Note that you must be a part of a career or job-readiness program offered by your school or community organization to apply for this internship. Once selected, you will receive your minimum hour and schedule requirements.

3. Penn Vet Working Dog Center Internships

Location: Philadelphia, PA
Eligibility: High school seniors or recent high school graduates who are at least 18 years old (eligibility criteria may vary according to position)
Application Deadline: Rolling (intersession deadline) | End of March (summer session deadline)
Dates: Minimum 12 weeks (20 hours/week) during the school year (intersession) | May 29 - August 16 (full-time during the summer)
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship.

High school seniors who are rising college freshmen can opt for intersession or summer session internships at the Penn Vet Working Dog Center, a national research, development, and training center for scent detection dogs. The center aims to develop a detection dog breeding and training program to execute, test, and spread knowledge. To fulfill this aim, the center is looking for passionate interns who wish to gain practical experience in the field.

These internships involve daily hands-on interaction with dogs, chances to learn about dog training and research, regular mentorship from trainers and veterinary staff, and regular maintenance of the dogs’ well-being and training environment. You can opt for internships in areas like canine fitness, behavioral science, bio-med, canine olfaction research, dog training, psychology, and law enforcement.

4. Internships at the Smithsonian National Zoo

Location: Washington, D.C. | Front Royal, VA | Herndon, VA. In-person, hybrid, and virtual formats are available.
Eligibility: High school students are eligible, with criteria varying depending on the position
Application Deadline: Varies based on position
Dates: Varies based on position
Stipend: Some internships are paid (amount varies) while others are unpaid.

The Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute offers numerous internship opportunities in areas like animal care, veterinary medicine, animal enrichment, animal behavior, conservation, nutrition, genetics, and more. Each internship has its own requirements and job roles, so make sure to check each opportunity’s description thoroughly before applying. Volunteering positions are also available.

The zoo keeps updating its internship opportunities throughout the year, so make sure to keep checking for new offerings. The zoo’s current relevant internship offerings include the Carnivore Animal Keeper Internship (SCBI) wherein interns will work in the field of animal care and conservation biology by learning about and carrying out activities like animal husbandry, behavioral observations and enrichment, and nutrition.

5. Junior Internship Position at North Carolina Zoo’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

Location: North Carolina Zoo, Asheboro, NC
Eligibility: High school students who are 16-18 years old, can lift at least 50 pounds, and can work in demanding climatic conditions can apply. Check the detailed requirements here before applying.
Application Deadline: Applications typically close in early April.
Dates: Mid-June - July (6 weeks)
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship.

North Carolina Zoo’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center offers 6-week (or more) internships that involve 80 hours of work, requiring two 6-hour shifts each week and 2-hour training sessions each week. As part of the internship, you will assist with the routine daily care and maintenance of wildlife patients and resident animals. Some of your duties will include admitting patients, keeping records, answering phones, and husbandry and feeding.

Additionally, interns will get the rare chance to assist with various medical tasks under the guidance of the veterinary staff. Such tasks could include assisting with radiographs and surgeries and administering treatments to animals. Research, tours, training, animal rescues, and project work are some other interesting elements of this internship.

6. Miami-Dade County’s Animal Services Department’s Internship Program

Location: Pet Adoption and Protection Center, Doral, FL
Eligibility: High school juniors and seniors who can fill out an application through their high school internship coordinator
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Dates: Year-round internship options are available.
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship.

The Animal Services Department of Miami-Dade County offers an internship program to high school students by allowing them to observe and participate in daily shelter duties. If selected, you will also get the chance to receive professional mentorship and training from experts in the field to develop your skills and enhance your knowledge.

As part of the internship, you will participate in experiential learning activities, work on project-based assignments, and receive hands-on experience in working with animals. Multiple departments and interest areas are available for you to choose from, although information about these will be available only during the application process. Make sure you specify your interests and career goals when you write your statement for the application.

7. Veterinary Summer Experience by the University of Tennessee’s College of Veterinary Medicine

Location: Local clinics + University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN
Eligibility: Tennessee high school juniors and seniors who are at least 16 years old with a minimum 3.0 GPA
Application Deadline: Applications usually close in February.
Dates: June 17 - July 19 (5 weeks)
Stipend: Paid (amount not mentioned)

The University of Tennessee’s College College of Veterinary Medicine’s Veterinary Summer Experience is an internship program that has been around since 1993. Accepting only 12 program participants, this experience is highly competitive and selective.

The program provides high school students a chance to learn about the profession, obtain educational experiences, and gain practical exposure to the field. As part of this attempt, selected students will get the chance to shadow professional veterinarians and staff in local vet clinics for a month, where they will receive crucial training and one-on-one mentorship.

In the final fifth week, students will participate in a week-long residential program on the university campus where they will take part in lectures, clinical rotations, and laboratory sessions.

8. Wildlife and Exotic Animal Veterinary Internship Program at New England Wildlife Center

Location: New England Wildlife Center, Weymouth, MA
Eligibility: Students aged at least 17 can apply. Detailed requirements are listed here.
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis with a deadline in February for the summer internships.
Dates: 6-8 weeks in the summer, with longer internships possible during the non-summer months
Stipend: This is an unpaid internship.

The Wildlife and Exotic Animal Veterinary Internship Program at New England Wildlife Center is a great option if you are interested in the care of wild and rare animal and bird species. You will undertake this internship at the center’s wildlife hospital and its exotic animal veterinary practice, Odd Pet Vet. Combined, the two treat 225 species of animals.

The internship program aims to provide students with knowledge and experience in areas like veterinary medicine, STEM, veterinary medical technology, and natural history. As an intern, you will assist the veterinary and hospital staff with day-to-day tasks and operations like making food plates, maintaining and cleaning the facilities, mentoring youth and volunteers, assisting in surgeries, caring for admitted patients, and participating in educational programs for the public.

9. Bronx Zoo Animal Care Internships

Location: Bronx Zoo, Bronx, NY
Eligibility: High school seniors aged at least 18 can apply. Confirm which internships accept high school students before applying.
Application Deadline: Varies based on position
Dates: March-May (spring) | May-August (summer) | September-December (fall) | January-March (winter)
Stipend: Paid (amount varies based on position)

The Bronx Zoo comprises multiple zoos and settings, such as the New York Aquarium, Central Park Zoo, Bronx Zoo, and Prospect Park Zoo. Each place further offers various internship opportunities in animal care, including animal enrichment, behavioral husbandry, aviculture, animal behavior research, and focused aquarium work with sharks, fish and invertebrates, sea cliffs, and behavioral husbandry aqua theaters.

As part of these internship roles, you will learn all about caring for animals in zoos or aquariums by carrying out tasks like record keeping, dietary preparation, exhibit and life support maintenance, observation, training, and enrichment. These tasks are a great way to familiarize yourself with animals and prepare yourself for more intricate roles in veterinary science.

10. WildCare’s Wildlife Hospital Internships

Location: WildCare, San Rafael, CA
Eligibility: Graduating high school seniors who are at least 18 years old and have prior practical/academic experience in the field
Application Deadline: Applications are accepted on a rolling basis until all spots are full.
Dates: April-September. Applicants can opt for a 3- or 6-month full-time internship.
Stipend: $200 per week

WildCare delivers medical care, community engagement, environmental education, and advocacy for the protection of wildlife and habitat. It runs a wildlife hospital where students can intern.

If selected, you will be able to learn and carry out tasks like disinfection, cleaning and maintenance of habitats, food preparation and administration using nutritional guidelines, wildlife restraint and handling, common splinting and wing wrap techniques, calculating and preparing medicine doses, administering medication, and more. Additionally, interns will receive educational material and quizzes and will take a final exam at the end of the session. You will also undertake independent projects and presentations on topics in wildlife medicine and rehabilitation.

Additional Opportunities

Ladder Internship Program - Health Tech and Medicine Track: This selective start-up internship program allows you to work with a high-growth start-up on an internship. Interns are offered one-on-one training in communication, time management and other such valuable skills and will also have the opportunity to attend group training sessions with other interns in their cohort.
Lumiere Research Scholar Program: This selective online high school program allows you to do university-level research in veterinary science or related fields.

Ridgefield Park Animal Hospital Internship

The Ridgefield Park Animal Hospital gives you the ability to see how an animal hospital functions behind the front desk and let you be a part of it. We consider all applicants who are at least 16 years of age and who have a willingness to learn. All applicants who meet minimum qualifications will be asked to interview with either one of our veterinarians, our office manager, or our head technician. There will also be a tour of the hospital. Interns will be given learning objectives as a guideline for an idea of what they should be learning during their time at our hospital.

Like most other animal hospitals and veterinary clinics, the Ridgefield Park Animal Hospital provides its interns with a wealth of information and hours that can be then utilized in pursuit of a veterinary-related career. As such, we do not offer paid internships. Availability and scheduling for internships are based on the current number of interns we currently have, which changes based on the time of year. The Ridgefield Park Animal Hospital runs Monday through Friday, 8:00am to 7:00pm, and Saturday, 8:30am to 2:00pm. Surgeries are scheduled every day but Saturday and usually happen before 3:00pm. Appointments are scheduled at any time. As an intern, you are not required to be present the entire day; we can work with your availability as you list in your application.

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