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You can’t start a career in the veterinary medicine industry without completing the necessary educational programs. Traditional veterinarians, for instance, are required to complete a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine (DVM), whereas board-certified specialists often require additional education. Whether you want to become a traditional veterinarian, a board-specialist veterinary or even a paravetinary worker, though, you may have to complete an externship as well. Externships are a requirement for many veterinary programs. What is a veterinary externship exactly, and how does it work?

What Is a Veterinary Externship?

A veterinary externship is an educational program that involves hands-on training at a veterinary clinic or another veterinary establishment. When completing a veterinary program, the college at which you are enrolled in the program may require you to complete an externship as well. A veterinary externship is part of a veterinary program. It’s offered by colleges and other educational institutions as part of their respective veterinary programs.

How a Veterinary Externship Works

During a veterinary externship, you’ll visit a veterinary clinic to receive real-world experience. There’s only so much you can learn about veterinary medicine in the classroom. While there are plenty of high-quality veterinary programs offered by well-known and reputable colleges throughout the United States, they don’t expose students to real-world veterinary clinics. That’s why colleges often require the completion of a veterinary externship. A veterinary externship allows students to participate in hands-on training at an actual veterinary clinic. It’s performed off-campus at a veterinary clinic that provides medical services to animals.

How Veterinary Externships Differ From Internships

Most veterinary externships last for about one to four weeks. Of course, this is in stark contrast to veterinary internships, which can last for over a year. The length of both veterinary externships and internships can vary. Some colleges have a longer externship or internship than others. Nonetheless, most veterinary externships are substantially shorter than veterinary internships.

Another difference between veterinary internships and externships is that the former includes compensation, whereas the latter does not. In other words, you typically won’t get paid when completing a veterinary externship. Externships are simply part of colleges’ veterinary programs. They are designed to prepare aspiring veterinarians and other veterinary professionals for the real world.

Do You Have to Complete a Veterinary Externship?

If you’re looking to start a career in the veterinary medicine industry, you might be wondering whether or not a veterinary externship is required. Veterinarians are generally required to complete a veterinary externship during a DVM program. To become a licensed veterinarian, you’ll have to enroll in a DVM program at an accredited college. There are dozens of accredited colleges throughout the United States that offer a DVM program, most of which require students to complete a veterinary externship.

In addition to traditional and licensed veterinarians, veterinary technicians are often required to complete a veterinary externship as well. Many colleges offer veterinary technician programs. Veterinary technician programs typically last for about two years, during which they expose students to veterinary technician curriculum. As part of a veterinary technician program, you may be required to complete a veterinary externship. You’ll have to spend several weeks at a veterinary clinic while shadowing other veterinarian technicians.

Board-certified veterinary specialists may also be required to complete a veterinary externship. Board-certified specialists are veterinarians who specialize in a particular branch of veterinary medicine. There are board-certified veterinarians for oncology, avian, feline, canine, clinical pathology, parasitology and more. Regardless, many of them require the completion of either a veterinary externship or an internship.

Tips for a Successful Veterinary Externship

There are a few things you should know when completing a veterinary externship. First and foremost, check your college’s requirements. Whether you’re enrolled in a DVM program, a veterinary technician program or any other veterinary program, your college may have specific requirements regarding the completion of a veterinary externship. By checking your college’s requirements, you’ll have a better understanding of what to expect.

You should treat your veterinary externship as a real job by showing up on time. Most colleges will give you a schedule. You’ll have to show up at the veterinary clinic to complete your externship. By showing up on time, you’ll make the make of the most of your veterinary externship. If you show up late, on the other hand, you won’t have the same positive experience.

Perhaps the most important tip for a successful veterinary externship is to give it your full attention. Veterinary externships offer invaluable experience to aspiring veterinarians and veterinary workers. While participating in a veterinary externship, you’ll be able to shadow the veterinary clinic’s workers to see how they work. Giving it your full attention will allow you to absorb and retain more information from your veterinary externship, which you can apply to your actual veterinary career after completing your veterinary program.