Veterinary Rehabilitation Internship Programs: A Comprehensive Guide

Veterinary rehabilitation is a rapidly growing field, and internships offer invaluable experience for students and graduates seeking to specialize in this area. These programs provide hands-on training, mentorship, and exposure to a wide range of cases, preparing individuals for successful careers in veterinary rehabilitation.

The Value of Veterinary Rehabilitation Internships

Internships in veterinary rehabilitation offer a unique opportunity to:

Gain hands-on experience in a clinical setting.
Develop essential skills in physical examination, treatment modalities, and patient care.
Work alongside experienced veterinarians and rehabilitation specialists.
Learn about a variety of conditions and rehabilitation techniques.
Enhance your resume and increase your competitiveness for future employment.
Network with professionals in the field.

Types of Veterinary Rehabilitation Internship Programs

Veterinary rehabilitation internships are available in various settings, including:

Specialty equine sports medicine and canine rehabilitation clinics
Wildlife rehabilitation centers
Veterinary teaching hospitals
Private practices offering rehabilitation services

These internships may focus on specific areas of rehabilitation, such as:

Canine rehabilitation
Equine rehabilitation
Wildlife rehabilitation
Sports medicine
Neurologic rehabilitation
Orthopedic rehabilitation

Featured Internship Programs

Integrative Pet Care (IPC) Internship

IPC offers formal mentorship to students and professionals pursuing certification in canine rehabilitation. They also welcome veterinary students seeking further education in physical rehabilitation. IPC internships include one-on-one training and hands-on opportunities to help each practitioner utilize their education and new skills in a clinical setting. They are an approved internship site for students pursuing their certification as a Canine Rehabilitation Assistant (CCRA), Canine Veterinary Rehabilitation Nurse (CCRVN), or Canine Rehabilitation Therapist (CCRT). IPC also hosts wet labs for veterinary student groups interested in a hands-on group learning opportunity, and is an approved externship site for students pursuing their certification as a Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner (CCRP) through the University of Tennessee with Northeast Seminars. A summer internship position is offered to one veterinary student each year, typically running from May to August.

According to past interns, the program offers a great opportunity to learn about physical medicine/rehabilitation. The experience helped to develop orthopedic and neurological physical examination skills. In addition, interns are exposed to many different modalities for pain management and involved in long-term patient care to help promote return to function. The internship also offers a positive and supportive work environment. The entire staff is welcoming, knowledgeable, and enthusiastic. Interns are given the independence to guide their own learning, with opportunities to explore various aspects of veterinary care. One-on-one hour-long didactic lectures are provided on topics such as neurologic conditions, common orthopedic surgeries, nutrition, chiropractic, and gait analysis.

Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) Internship Program

Since 1963, the Internship Program at the Schwarzman Animal Medical Center (AMC) has trained the next generation of veterinary leaders. AMC interns gain hands-on experience under the guidance of leading veterinarians, rotating through their large, multi-specialty hospital with its diverse caseload. With nearly 60,000 patient visits a year and 20+ specialties and services under one roof, AMC interns benefit from the wide spectrum of cases associated with AMC’s role as New York City’s go-to veterinary specialty hospital. Interns work as integral members of healthcare teams under direct supervision of Senior Veterinarians, including 40+ board-certified specialists. In addition, interns benefit from daily lectures and hospital-wide rounds. AMC has decades of success in supporting interns through the match process; over the past five years, 95% of AMC interns obtained a position furthering their goal of board certification. AMC offers housing to single interns in an AMC-owned apartment building within walking distance of the hospital at below-market rates.

Blue Ridge Wildlife Center (BRWC) Professional Training Program

Blue Ridge Wildlife Center believes that the future of wildlife depends on educating and training the next generation of conservationists, veterinarians, and wildlife rehabilitators. The BRWC offers a variety of professional training programs, including:

Wildlife Rehabilitation Summer Internship: A 12-week summer internship for students and others interested in wildlife rehabilitation. Interns will develop skills in wildlife identification, disease and toxin recognition, species-specific handling techniques, biosecurity, and animal husbandry. Interns may also have the opportunity to assist a wildlife veterinarian.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Fellow: A year-long fellowship for experienced rehabilitators who have completed at least one internship and are ready to take on more responsibility.
Veterinary Internship: A year-long veterinary internship for recent DVM graduates. This role provides a comprehensive experience in wildlife medicine.
Veterinary Extern: Externships are available year-round for veterinary and vet tech students, as well as licensed veterinarians and veterinary technicians. This externship provides intensive training in wildlife and conservation medicine. Externs will gain competencies in anatomy, wildlife diseases, triage, anesthesia, surgery, and more.

BRWC's Professional Training Program offers paid intern and fellow positions, as well as housing options. Participants work directly with experienced staff in a fast-paced environment, gaining invaluable experience in the care, treatment, and rehabilitation of various species native to the region. The program combines practical, hands-on training with in-depth theoretical knowledge, ensuring that participants are well-prepared for careers in wildlife conservation.

Wildlife Center of Virginia (WCV) Training Programs

The Wildlife Center of Virginia offers a comprehensive range of training programs, including veterinary internships and externships, as well as rehabilitation internships and externships. These programs provide hands-on experience in wildlife medicine and rehabilitation.

Veterinary Internships for Graduated Veterinarians: Each year, the Wildlife Center of Virginia typically offers two veterinary internships, one through the Veterinary Internship Residency Matching Program (VIRMP) and a second outside of the VIRMP, for graduate veterinarians seeking further experience in conservation and wildlife medicine incorporating the One Health philosophy. Each intern is involved in all aspects of wildlife medicine including physical exams, diagnostic sample collection, radiography, anesthesia, surgery, medical treatment, necropsy, husbandry, record maintenance, telephone consultations, on-call emergencies, and presentations at rounds. Each intern also supervises senior veterinary students from various veterinary schools, volunteers, and the veterinary technician intern. Conference presentation and writing for publication are strongly encouraged, and contribution to the WCV’s professional training program is required.
Veterinary Externships for Senior Veterinary Students: This program is designed to provide veterinary students and international veterinarians with practical experience in aspects of wild animal handling, medical management, and husbandry. Throughout the three-to-twelve week veterinary externship, externs will receive instruction and hands-on experience in anatomy, physical restraint, anesthesia, radiography, laboratory analysis, emergency triage, therapeutics, nutrition, wound management, surgery, and necropsy procedures.
Veterinary Technician Internship for Graduated Vet Techs: The Wildlife Center of Virginia offers a one-year internship for graduated veterinary technicians seeking further experience in wildlife medicine. The intern is involved in all aspects of wildlife medicine, including surgery, diagnostic sample collection, radiography, anesthesia, surgery, medical treatments, necropsy, husbandry, record maintenance, telephone consultations, and presentations at rounds. This internship places a special emphasis on veterinary diagnostics and a significant amount of time will be spent performing CBC’s, cytology, fecal examinations, and wildlife parasitology.
Veterinary Technician Externship for Veterinary Technician Students: The Wildlife Center of Virginia offers externship opportunities to veterinary technician students seeking further experience in wildlife medicine. During the externship, technician students assist with daily patient treatments, diagnostics (including radiology, hematology, parasitology, and cytology), hospital maintenance, record-keeping, surgery prep, animal husbandry, and enrichment.
Rehabilitation Externships: Each year the Wildlife Center admits about 3,800 patients - sick, injured, and orphaned wild animals in need of medical care. The wildlife rehabilitation externships give in-depth, hands-on experience in the field of wildlife rehabilitation. Externships range from 4-12 weeks, focus on animal husbandry, nutrition, capture and restraint methods, hand-feeding techniques for orphaned species, wildlife laws, and release criteria.
Wildlife Rehabilitation Internships: Each year, the Wildlife Center of Virginia offers a one-year advanced training program in wildlife rehabilitation. Through this training program, the intern gains intensive, hands-on training and experience in the field of wildlife rehabilitation, focusing on animal nutrition, husbandry, feeding techniques, capture and restraint methods, release criteria, captive animal behaviors, and natural history.
Outreach Programs Externship: Outreach Program externship students gain hands-on experience in wildlife education by supporting on-site and off-site programs featuring animal ambassadors. Externs learn about native wildlife, assist with program preparation and delivery, and develop strong public speaking and interpersonal communication skills while engaging audiences of all ages. Students also learn the fundamentals of animal ambassador care and gain exposure to reptile ambassador handling and husbandry practices.

Wisconsin Humane Society Wildlife Rehabilitation Center Internship Program

The Wisconsin Humane Society Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is an urban wildlife hospital with a small staff of licensed wildlife rehabilitators and over 150 volunteers. Upon completion of the internship, interns should have acquired a working knowledge of the basics of wildlife rehabilitation and valuable experience and insight into a career working with wildlife. The WHS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center is looking for motivated undergraduate/graduate students and recent graduates majoring in biology, wildlife management or ecology, natural sciences, pre-veterinary, or related fields; and wildlife rehabilitators seeking more experience will also be considered. Ideal interns are emotionally mature, hard-working, reliable, enthusiastic, conscientious individuals who are willing to perform a variety of tasks with a smile. Good communication skills and an ability to effectively work in a team environment are essential. Candidates must be committed to treating animals with kindness and respect. A successful wildlife intern should be able to work well under pressure and time constraints, as well as multi-task efficiently (and still enjoy their work!). Interns must be available evenings, weekends and holidays. They must also be available for the entirety of their internship; due to the seasonal busyness of our work, vacation requests are very rarely approved. Though the internship limits each intern’s hours to about 40 per week, working more than eight hours on a given day is sometimes necessary to complete essential animal care duties. At times, this can be a physically demanding position. Interns must be able to stand for eight hours a day, bend, lift, stoop, twist, crawl, and be able to lift 50 pounds up to waist level. A limited number of paid internship positions are available with staggered start and end dates. Interns will be accepted for a minimum of a twelve-week period, but a longer stay is encouraged. Interns are paid an hourly wage and receive a paycheck biweekly. Interns must be up-to-date on their tetanus vaccinations. Interns are immediately immersed into the work and function as a valuable staff member. A comprehensive Intern Manual which contains departmental procedures is provided to all interns, as well as hands-on training by licensed wildlife rehabilitators. A small number of part-time unpaid externship opportunities are available on a limited basis to qualified and motivated individuals. This opportunity combines multiple volunteer positions into one cohesive role and is geared towards adults actively seeking to gain experience in wildlife rehabilitation. Volunteer externs are scheduled approximately 14-20 hours per week, for at least 3 months during our busy season.

AIM Equine Sports Medicine and Canine Rehabilitation Clinic Internship

This internship offers a unique opportunity to work alongside a team that blends cutting-edge medicine with a heart for animal welfare. The clinic is set on a beautiful property shared with a sanctuary for rescued animals. Interns will gain insights into caring for a diverse group of animals and work in a supportive team environment.

Gordon Wildlife’s Baby Bootcamp

Gordon Wildlife’s Baby Bootcamp qualifies as a 3 credit summer internship for Jefferson Community College’s Zoo Technology Program, and for up to 300 hours/3 credits with University of Georgia’s Wildlife Program at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. The majority of the work involved in current internships is rehabilitative in nature (i.e. general husbandry, bottle feeding, cleaning and learning about/caring for baby raccoons).

Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium Animal Rehabilitation Internship

Mote’s Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital provides state-of-the-art critical care and chronic care for several species of stranded sea turtles. The primary mission of the Hospitals is to rehabilitate these animals and return them to the wild, at the same time gaining information that will expand knowledge of the biology, disease processes, and veterinary care of these animals. The Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Hospital consistently has patients throughout the year, and much of the intern’s responsibilities will focus on these animals. The role of the Animal Rehabilitation Intern is to assist staff with basic husbandry care of hospital patients, including diet preparation, feeding, water quality, habitat maintenance, data entry, and assisting with restraint and veterinary procedures as needed. Undergraduate students interested in careers in animal care and husbandry, biology, or wildlife conservation and rehabilitation are preferred. Ability to lift fifty pounds and strong swimming ability are required. Interns work four, 10-hour days a week, including at least one weekend day and sometimes both. A 12-week commitment is preferred. Intern hours may vary widely according to the medical needs of animals in residence, so interns MUST have independent, reliable transportation. Mote’s Animal Rehabilitation program accepts interns year-round, with an average internship length of 12 weeks.

Finding the Right Internship Program

When searching for a veterinary rehabilitation internship program, consider the following factors:

Your interests: What area of rehabilitation are you most passionate about?
Your career goals: What skills and experience do you need to achieve your goals?
The program's focus: Does the program align with your interests and career goals?
The program's reputation: Is the program well-respected in the field?
The program's location: Are you willing to relocate for the internship?
The program's duration: How long is the internship?
The program's requirements: Do you meet the eligibility requirements?
The program's compensation: Is the internship paid or unpaid? Does it offer housing or other benefits?

Application Process

The application process for veterinary rehabilitation internships typically involves submitting a resume, cover letter, and letters of recommendation. Some programs may also require an interview.

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