The beginning of a lifelong connection

Students

Your Journey with CVP

At CVP, your student experience doesn’t end when the summer does—it’s the beginning of a lifelong connection. We’re committed to helping you grow from student to doctor through a clear, supported pathway:

Student Colleague > Externship > Full-time DVM Role

Each step builds on the one before, helping you strengthen your skills, expand your network, and find your place in the CVP community of hospitals across the country.

We believe the best way to prepare for a career in veterinary medicine is to live it, surrounded by passionate doctors, experienced technicians, and a supportive community that believes in your future.

Whether you’re ready to step into a busy practice for your externship or looking for your first immersive summer experience, CVP’s programs give you real-world skills, meaningful mentorship, and a clear path toward a fulfilling career.

  • Hands-on, real-world clinical experiences

  • Exciting, fast-paced entrepreneurial environments

  • Mentoring by experienced veterinarians

  • Leadership seminars & educational events

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Paid Student Colleague Program

CVP’s Student Colleague Program is an 8-week, paid summer experience designed to immerse students in the profession early. It’s the perfect opportunity for first–and second–year students to gain clinical exposure, learn from skilled mentors, and experience the culture of teamwork that defines CVP hospitals.

A veterinarian wearing glasses and a stethoscope examining a small brown dog with a white chest using an otoscope in a clinic room with beige flooring and three chairs in the background.

Program Highlights

  • Open to all students, with priority for 1st–2nd year veterinary students

  • 8 weeks of immersive, hands-on learning with CVP doctors and teams

  • Exposure to real-world medicine, communication, and client care

  • Mentorship from veterinarians who love teaching and investing in students

  • Build confidence and experience before your clinical year

Apply Now
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Paid Externship Program

Hands-on learning in the real world of veterinary medicine.

Three veterinary professionals, wearing scrubs, surgical masks, and hair covers, are performing a procedure on a dog lying on an examination table in a clinical setting.

A CVP externship gives you the opportunity to put your classroom knowledge into practice through observing, assisting, and learning directly from experienced veterinarians in real hospital settings. Our externships are designed to deepen your clinical confidence, expose you to different practice types, and help you explore what kind of veterinary career inspires you most.

Externship Highlights

  • Offered to third–and fourth–year veterinary students

  • Available in a wide variety of settings: General Practice, Large Animal, Equine, Exotics, Specialty, Emergency & Urgent Care, Ophthalmology

  • Flexible durations based on academic program requirements

  • Includes observation, supervised procedures, diagnostics, and client communication training

  • Build mentorship connections with CVP doctors who guide and support your career journey

Apply Now

Why Choose CVP?

  • Enjoy life and build your career at any of our 150 locations, located in rural towns or larger cities in 18 states

  • Mentorship from veterinarians who believe in teaching and partnership

  • Access to diverse practice types and career paths

  • Paid time off to volunteer in your community

  • A company rooted in purpose:

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Text on black background that says 'Creating more meaningful moments between pets and people'
The CVP Difference