WCS offers four- to eight-week externships in Zoological Medicine and Surgery and Veterinary Technology at its zoos and aquariums in New York City. Applicants must be senior veterinary or veterinary technician students at AVMA-accredited veterinary schools or accredited veterinary technology schools.
Please note that participation in on-site WCS externship programs are contingent upon current NYS, NYC, and WCS COVID procedures and protocols and these may change between the time of externship application and the start of the programs.
See WCS Covid-19 Policies Related to the 2022-2023 Application Cycle
Zoological Medicine and Surgery Veterinary Student Externship
WCS’s Clinical department offers four- to eight-week externships in zoological medicine and surgery for senior veterinary students at AVMA-accredited veterinary schools. The externships take place at the Wildlife Health Center on the grounds of the Bronx Zoo. Students will also participate in clinical rotations at the Central Park, Queens, and Prospect Park zoos. Externships expose students to a variety of clinical cases including fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and terrestrial and marine mammals. The students will observe all facets of wildlife health care, including preventive medicine, daily medical and surgical care, clinical rounds, anesthesia, medical record-keeping, quarantine procedures, clinical pathology interpretation, and broader captive and free-ranging population conservation issues. During the rotation, students are required to prepare and present a topic to the Wildlife Health Center staff. Applications are accepted for clinical year externships from July 1st through November 15th of your JUNIOR year. These applications will then be reviewed and students will be notified of the results by December 15th of the current year. Due to the great interest in the program, applications cannot be accepted or processed at other times.
About Our Clinical Veterinary Externship Program
Clinical Veterinary Externship: Frequently Asked Questions
Clinical Veterinary Externship: Application Form - Check back in summer 2022 to download the 2023-2024 Externship Application
Aquatic Medicine and Surgery Veterinary Student Externship
WCS’s Aquatic Animal Health department offers three- to six-week externships (four-week preferable) in aquatic medicine, surgery, and pathology for senior veterinary students from AVMA-accredited veterinary schools. The externships take place at the Aquatic Animal Health Center at the New York Aquarium. Students will also spend time within the Water Quality Laboratory and with Animal Care teams. Externships expose students to a variety of clinical cases including fish, elasmobranchs, penguins, and marine mammals. The students will observe all facets of aquatic health care, including preventive medicine, daily medical and surgical care, clinical rounds, anesthesia, quarantine procedures, water quality evaluation, clinical and anatomic pathology interpretation. During the rotation, students will be required to prepare and present a short project or topic to the Aquatic Health and Animal Care staff. Applications are accepted for clinical year externships from July 1st through November 15th of your JUNIOR year. These applications will then be reviewed and students will be notified of the results by December 15th of the current year. Due to the great interest in the program, applications cannot be accepted or processed at other times.
About Our Aquatic Medicine and Surgery Veterinary Externship Program
Aquatic Veterinary Externship: Frequently Asked Questions
Aquatic Veterinary Externship: Application Form
Veterinary Technician Student Externship
WCS’s Clinical department offers full-time, 16-week veterinary technician externships in Zoological Medicine and Surgery for senior veterinary technician students from accredited veterinary technician schools. The primary location of the externships is the Wildlife Health Center at the Bronx Zoo. The externship exposes students to a great variety of clinical cases and laboratory samples from fish, amphibians, reptiles, birds, and terrestrial and marine mammals. Students will observe and participate in all facets of wildlife healthcare and associated veterinary technical skills—including preventive medicine, daily medical and surgical care, clinical rounds, anesthesia, medical record-keeping, quarantine procedures, and clinical laboratory analysis.
About Our Veterinary Technician Externship Program
Veterinary Technician Externship: Application Form
Veterinary and Vet Technician Student Externships thumbnail image photo credit: D McAloose, WCS