Clinical-Year Externships/Preceptorships

Contact:  919-513-6262  |  Student Development

This opportunity is for current DVM students at other universities who wish to complete an externship experience at NC State’s College of Veterinary Medicine. Students must be in their senior clinical year of their DVM program to attend.

The College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM) at North Carolina State University welcomes DVM students in their senior clinical year of study who wish to complete an externship experience in one of NC State-CVM’s clinical services. This is ONLY for students who are in their senior clinical year; students who are not in their clinical year, or who are in an earlier clinical semester, are NOT eligible for the externship program.

PLEASE NOTE: Applications for the next clinical year will open in March-April, and we will begin processing requests at that time.

For the benefit of both the visitor and the service, all visitors are required to have strong written and verbal English language skills that are proficient to function on a day-to-day basis in the clinical environment.

Externship Requirements

Who is eligible to complete an Externship at NCSU CVM?

• Students who are in the senior clinical year of their DVM program, are receiving academic credit for the externship and are in good standing at their home institution.
• Students in DVM Years 1-3, undergraduate students, and current DVMs are not eligible to visit through the Externship Program. Please visit the CVM Visitor Program page for more information.
• All visitors should have strong written and verbal English language skills that are proficient to function on a day-to-day basis in the clinical environment.

How long can my externship be at NCSU CVM?

• Students must visit for a MINIMUM of two weeks and a MAXIMUM of four weeks, depending on availability. Short one-week externships are not allowed due to limited seating and availability. Similarly, externships longer than one month are not allowed.
• Due to limited seating, visiting students are required to come according to NCSU CVM’s clinical rotation dates. The CVM understands that our block dates may not align with other schools’ rotations, but visitors are asked to come according to NCSU rotation dates so that course availability is not affected. Visiting students are required to come at the start of the rotation for orientation purposes and should plan to stay for the entire block. Students should not visit the CVM as their first clinical rotation.

International DVM Students

• International DVM Students are invited to visit the CVM as *supervised observers/shadowers only. According to United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) regulations, international DVM students present in the United States in visitor status are NOT allowed to work or perform any productive activities at the College of Veterinary Medicine, but may engage in supervised observation at the College.
  • Because International Visiting Students are only allowed to observe NCSU-CVM’s clinical rotations (NOT participate), it can sometimes affect whether they receive credit from their home institution for the visit. Students should check with their school to ensure that they will be approved to visit NCSU-CVM as a supervised observer.
• Strong written and verbal English language skills are required for visiting students. The clinical environment is fast-paced and communication is vital, so visitors must possess English skills that are proficient to function on a day-to-day basis in the clinical environment. Should be at the level of passing the IELTS or TOEFL.

What will I do during my externship?

• Visiting students will be given the same opportunities* and expectations as NC State CVM students during their externships.
  • *International DVM students are not allowed to physically participate during their externship due to USCIS federal regulations. International visitors are allowed to participate as shadowers/observers only.
• Daily activities may include participation in rounds, reception of cases, and intimate involvement in the work-up and treatment of a wide variety of cases. You may request a visit with any service or program in the Veterinary Hospital.

The Application Process

1. Complete the Visitor Application. Click on the red button to go to form. Externships are scheduling according to course availability. Applications will only be processed after ensuring that NC State’s clinical-year students have been scheduled to meet all requirements.
   • Please provide several scheduling options if possible: a range of dates or requested clinics may increase the possibility of scheduling an externship.
     • Dates for our clinical year rotations: here.
   • We are accepting applications for the CURRENT clinical year. If you are interested in coming during the NEXT clinical year, the visitor application will be updated and released in March-April, and we will begin processing requests at that time.
2. If a student’s request can be accommodated, they will be notified via email. they will receive several documents that must be completed to set up the visit. The documents, unless an alternate deadline has been approved, must be returned two months prior to the student’s scheduled visit date.

Complete the Visitor Application: 

Complete the Visitor Application

Click on the red button at the bottom of this section to open the application form. Externships are scheduled according to course availability. Applications will only be processed after ensuring that NC State CVM’s clinical-year students have been scheduled to meet all requirements.

IMPORTANT – PLEASE READ:

1. Due to limited seating, visiting students are required to come according to NCSU CVM’s clinical rotation dates. The CVM understands that our block dates may not align with other schools’ rotations, but visitors are asked to come according to NCSU rotation dates so that course availability is not affected. Visiting students are required to come at the start of the rotation for orientation purposes and should plan to stay for the entire block.
   • Students must be in their senior clinical year. Students should not visit the CVM as their first clinical rotation.
   • You may request a visit with any service or program in the Veterinary Hospital.
2. Deadlines: For best consideration, students should submit their application at least 6 weeks prior to the requested visit dates. Applications submitted within 4 weeks of their requested dates will not be considered.
   • Please provide several scheduling options if possible: a range of dates or requested clinics may increase the possibility of scheduling an externship.
     • Only one application will be accepted per visiting student. Duplicate applications will be voided. If you need to edit the block dates, requested rotations or any other information, please email cvm-extramural@ncsu.edu.
3. When will you hear back? If a student’s request can be accommodated, they will be notified via email. They will receive several documents that must be completed to set up the visit. The documents, unless an alternate deadline has been approved, must be returned at least ONE MONTH PRIOR to the student’s scheduled visit date.
4. If you are NOT a DVM student in the clinical year, please fill out the CVM Visitor Application form on the main Visitor Programs page.

Items of Importance

Once you have been approved for your externship experience, the Student Development Office will begin the process to set up your campus access. This will include creating your account in the campus systems, granting you hospital access, and more. You will be asked to complete several forms to facilitate this process, including a background check so that you can be activated in the campus systems. Save CVM-Extramural@ncsu.edu to your address book so that you can receive all emails in a timely manner.

Costs & Fees:

• There are no tuition fees required to complete student externships at NCSU CVM. Students visiting for two weeks will be given a temporary Visitor Badge to access the secure campus. Students who are visiting for more than two weeks will be required to purchase their own Campus Access Badge for $20 to access the buildings on campus.
• Visiting students are responsible for all transportation, room & board and meal costs during their visit.

International Students:

• International students are required to bring a copy of their Visa/I-94 Card to the Student Development Office when they arrive on-campus at the start of their externship.
• Students who have had contact with a farm or farm animals, other cloven-hoofed animals, birds, non-human primates or small mammals (excluding dogs or cats) must comply with the Policy on Biosecurity for Prevention of Foreign Animal Diseases.

Dress Codes:

• Dress Code: Small Animal Hospital
• Dress Code: Large Animal Hospital

Housing, Parking, Transportation

Information is available for Housing and Transportation.

• Housing:
  • visitors are responsible for setting up their own accommodations. It is recommended that visitors book housing accommodations quickly, as rooms can fill up fast.
• Parking: 
  • All parking at NC State University, including the College of Veterinary Medicine, is permit parking only from 7am-5pm. To park on-campus, visitors need to purchase a parking permit. Visiting externs are eligible to receive a special discounted permit for only $2/day. Instructions on purchasing the permit will be included in the externship orientation site once students have been approved for their visit.
  • Free parking is available across from the NCSU CVM campus on Blue Ridge Road in the North Carolina State Fairgrounds lot, highlighted in blue on the campus map. Please note that this is NOT an approved university parking lot and is not owned by NC State University, so you park there at your own risk. There is a trail from Blue Ridge Road that follows next to the parking deck and leads to the front of the CVM.
    • The State Fairgrounds lot is closed for different events throughout the year, so parking availability there is not guaranteed. Please plan accordingly.
• Transportation:
  • The Wolfline shuttle bus service offers service throughout NC State’s campus, including from university guest housing to the Veterinary Hospital.
    • To see a real-time map of bus locations and plan your route, click here.
• NC State Police Safety Escort: 
  • The CVM is located on the Centennial Biomedical Campus, which is separate from NC State’s main University Campus. If you are using the Wolfline as your primary method of transportation and expect to have night shift or evening/overnight on-call, please be aware of the Wolfline’s hours of operation.
  • If you are called to the CVM when the Wolfline is not running, or if you finish a late shift after the Wolfline ends, the NC State Police Department will assist anyone needing a safety escort between NCSU locations (on-campus housing and the CVM, etc.). Officers will make an effort to arrive quickly; however, if an emergency occurs, officers may not be immediately available. Anyone needing a safety escort can contact the department at 919.515.3333.