Veterinary Technician Externship Program
PACKS: Personalized, Autonomous Career & Knowledge Support for Veterinary Technician Students
Our PACKS externships are designed to set you up for a successful career as a licensed veterinary technician. At Vetco Total Care, you’ll work side by side with doctors and hospital teams, gaining hands-on experience while building essential clinical, surgical, communication, and leadership skills.
We’re committed to supporting the growth and development of future veterinary technicians and we’re excited to help you put your education into practice in a real-world setting.
WHY SHOULD I APPLY?
Throughout your student externship, you will gain hands-on experience with medical, surgical, diagnostic, and dental procedures in our state-of-the-art general practice hospitals. Practice your clinical skill set while being mentored and guided by experienced licensed veterinary technicians and veterinarians who are committed to your learning and growth.
Veterinary technician student externs are eligible to receive educational course credit hours or hourly wages as a veterinary assistant and enjoy generous Petco discounts on supplies, training, grooming, and veterinary care.
Your well-being is important! Vetco Total Care does not require after hours, on-call, late night or overnight shifts.
WILL THIS EXTERNSHIP COUNT TOWARD MY PROGRAM'S REQUIREMENTS?
We work with Penn Foster, PIMA and other veterinary technician programs for site approval and are glad to help you with any documentation required.
Take the first step toward an extraordinary veterinary technician student externship and apply today.
Ready to get started?
Got questions? Email us at vetprograms@petco.com.
Click here to download a PDF about this program you can print and share.
WHAT WILL I LEARN AND DO?
Throughout your externship, you will gain practical experience with a broad range of administrative, clinical, surgical, diagnostic, and dental procedures in a state-of-the-art general practice hospital.
We have listed the most common program requirements below. Please ask us about specific skills your program requires which are not listed.
- Hospital SOPs and safety protocols
- Effective client communication and education
- Front desk duties, administrative tasks
- Patient discharge procedures
- Sick + preventive care examinations
- Obtaining vitals, patient history and writing a SOAP
- Drawing and administering vaccines and other injections
- Applying topical, ocular and ear medications and treatments
- Safe restraint methods
- Venipuncture
- Small animal medicine + surgery
- Dentistry, including digital dental radiographs
- Clinical Digital Radiology, Ultrasonography using the Butterfly iQ+ Vet ultrasound, and Vetology AI Radiograph Interpretation + VetScan IMAGYST AI Microscope
- Nutrition
- Clinical Pathology using in-house IDEXX analyzers
- Anesthesia
Externs only perform care that is outlined by each Veterinary State Practice Act and only under the direct supervision of a veterinarian or Licensed Veterinary Technician. Vetco Total Care does not perform medically unnecessary and cosmetic procedures.
Externships may not be available in all Vetco Total Care locations.
VETERINARY EXTERNSHIP REQUIREMENTS
- Active enrollment in an AVMA-accredited veterinary college.
- Proof of medical and professional liability insurance.
- Availability to work Monday - Saturday during open hospital hours (usually 8:00 am - 6:00 pm).
- Strong observational, analytical, critical thinking and communication skills.
- Willingness to collaborate with and learn from anyone on staff.
QUALIFICATIONS TO APPLY
Review these requirements, then click apply to get started!
- You are currently enrolled in an AVMA CVTEA accredited veterinary technology program and plan to take the VTNE.
- You are available to work the hours required by your program and when VTC is open. VTC hospitals are open Monday through Saturday from 8 am – 6 pm with no after-hours or on-call. Externship hours are flexible based on your schedule and program requirements.
- You're a team player who enjoys working in a diverse and highly inclusive environment where all people are welcome as they are.
- You're open to learning from everyone on staff and receiving constructive feedback.
- You possess strong observational, analytical, critical thinking and communication skills. You love to identify and analyze problems and provide medically-sound recommendations.
- You maintain a calm, respectful and professional manner with colleagues, clients and patients. You can adapt to stressful situations that come with working in a veterinary hospital.
Questions? Email us at vetprograms@petco.com.
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Our Commitment to People, Pets and Planet
We believe the passion for pets is universal. To better serve our diverse customers across our 1,500 Pet Care Centers, 250+ Vetco Total Care hospitals and 1700+ weekly Vetco vaccination clinics, we are intentional about bringing the skillsets and experiences that help us meet the needs of all pets and pet parents. From attracting bilingual talent needed to serve multicultural market segments to leveraging a variety of perspectives to help us innovate in a competitive and changing industry, we know diversity and inclusion are critical business drivers to help Petco meet the needs of all pet families.
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Planet
- Began transitioning in-store habitats from fluorescent to LED bulbs, resulting in energy savings.
- Reduced energy usage by more than 4 million kWh through our lighting curtailment program.
- In 2024, our recycling initiatives diverted nearly 400 tons of plastic from landfills.
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People
- Provided career or skills-related training to 98% of all employees.
- Sponsored more than 150 scholarships through our Petco/Penn Foster Scholarship Program and Latinx Veterinary Medical Association.
- Nearly 600,000 hours of training delivered to pet care center partners.
- Over 40% of General Manager and District General Manager positions filled by internal promotions.
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Pets
- Reunited more than 100,000 pets with their pet parents through Petco Love Lost.
- Helped save nearly 7 million animals through adoptions in Petco pet care centers.
- Distributed more than 3.2 million free vaccines to pets via Petco Love.
- Invested nearly $410 million in lifesaving animal welfare work.
- Helped more than 4,000 animal welfare partners.
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