Veterinary Externship Opportunity (ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS)

Externship openings for February 28, 2028 – September 1, 2028

California Wildlife Center (CWC) invites students who are entering or are in their final clinical year of veterinary school at the time of externship, to apply for 4-week veterinary externship at California Wildlife Center. California Wildlife Center is unique in that it abides by its mission to provide medical care and educational outreach highlighting the local wildlife of California. During the externship, students will assist the Animal Care Department in providing health care to the patients admitted to CWC, which includes various avian species (passerines, corvids, raptors, ducks, and seabirds), small mammals, reptiles, and marine mammals (pinnipeds).

During the externship period, students will have the opportunity to assist or participate in case rounds, physical examinations, record keeping, diagnostic application, procedures and necropsy in a wildlife rehabilitation setting. Students will also be encouraged to practice communication, review scientific literature, and problem solve while reviewing individual cases. As a non-profit organization run primarily by volunteer staff, students may also be expected to assist with day-to-day tasks that ensure supplies, diets, dishes/laundry and enclosures are maintained in proper condition.

How to Apply:

Required:

• Curriculum Vitae

• Cover Letter

• Two Letters of Reference

All items should be submitted to the Director of Animal Care, Dr. Lauren Michaels,Lmichaels@cawildlife.org.

In your email with the above required items, please provide expected graduation date and three preferred 4-week periods of availability. Though we cannot guarantee availability during these time periods, we will do our best to work with students and their schedule. Students applying for anything less than a 4-week externship will not be considered.

This is an unpaid externship. Housing and transportation are the responsibility of the student applicant.

Applications are due no later than December 14th, 2026.

For general questions regarding the application process or the externship, please email Jasmine Regalado at JRegalado@cawildlife.org.

Thank you for your interest in our externship program! We look forward to receiving your