Work Experience
Practical work experience is just as important during and after classroom instruction as before it. These opportunities allow students to hone skills under the supervision of seasoned professionals.
Externships and Opportunity Blocks
Externships
Externships are brief (usually 2-4 weeks) work opportunities away from the College for which credit is not given. Students seeking special work experiences may do so through externships. Private and corporate practice, humane societies, governmental agencies, and pharmaceutical/pet food companies offer externships. Compensation may or may not be offered.
Externship Opportunities
Biomedical Research
Business Management
- Veterinary Business Management Association
- Business externships
Equine
Feline
Food Animal
Government/ Public Policy and Public Health Sites
International
Laboratory Animal Veterinary Careers
Large Animal Resources
Pathology
Poultry
Specialties
Wildlife, zoological and exotic resources
Additional Resources:
- Alliance of Veterinarians for the Environment
- American Association of Wildlife Veterinarians
- Ecological Health Listserv
Opportunity Blocks
Students in their sixth, seventh and eighth semesters may obtain off-campus clinical experience for credit in institutional setting with established teaching programs, or in facilities offering unique clinical or research experiences. Proposed programs must be approved by the faculty coordinators of the block who will then determine appropriate university credits. Lists of approved opportunity blocks are available at students.vet.cornell.edu.
Internships
Internships are non-degree programs that provide training for practice, clinical teaching, and specialty-board eligibility. Generally, a one-year rotating internship in medicine and surgery is prerequisite for residency programs and for board certification. A directory of available internships is published by the AAVC each year (available in mid-September and accessible online).