Skip to main content
College of Veterinary Medicine

Participating Externship Locations

Thank you for agreeing to participate in the Small Animal Extramural Experience course for NC State’s clinical-year DVM students!

Program Overview

Here are a few details about the course structure:

  • The Extramural Studies experience is a 2-week rotation.* The student must be present at your practice for at least 10 days of the 2-week period, during which time appointments are scheduled and/or procedures performed. You can expect involvement in after-hours emergency duties and have the option of requesting participation in weekend duties if these form part of the normal practice activities. A list of expectations for our fourth-year students is included below, and we ask that they be involved and assessed accordingly.
    • Contract Students who are completing their clinical year at NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine may receive 3 weeks of credit by completing 3-week externship experiences. The student must be present at your practice for at least 15 days of the 3-week period to receive full credit.
  • Students are expected to maintain a clinical case log recording each individual case with which they are involved during their externship experience.
  • This is a 2-credit course and is graded on a Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory basis. The student should provide you with an electronic evaluation form, and we appreciate your completing the performance evaluation at the end of the externship experience.
    • If you have approved a Contract Student to complete a 3-week externship experience, he/she will receive 3 weeks of credit if 15 days are complete.

The College of Veterinary Medicine and the students participating in the Extramural Experience course value the learning opportunity and experience provided by working with you in your practice. We greatly appreciate your willingness to actively participate in this endeavor!

If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions regarding the Small Animal Practice 4th-year Extramural Studies course, please contact Marije Risselada.

Expectations for Fourth-Year Students

For students participating in small animal extramural experiences:

  • Students are expected to maintain a case log based on the SOAP format.
  • Students are expected to practice in the role of doctor-to-be, including:
    • Discussing and summarizing patient history
    • Identifying physical examination findings and abnormalities
    • Creating a chief complaint and master problem list
    • Developing an appropriate and relevant diagnostic planWith supervision, performing basic diagnostic procedures (laboratory tests, diagnostic imaging)
    • Interpreting laboratory and diagnostic imaging results
    • Developing a treatment planWith supervision, performing basic surgical procedure
  • As appropriate, students are expected to research diseases and conditions related to presenting cases (review course notes, text references, online PubMed searches, etc).
  • Where appropriate, students are expected to discuss business and practice management strategies.
  • Students are expected to interact professionally and respectfully at all times with supervising veterinarian(s) and staff.