Western Veterinary Partners logo
Western Veterinary Partners
Manhattan Beach, California

DVM Student Externship - California

Veterinary MedicineExternship

Listed compensation

$1,000 stipend

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, call expectations, weekend coverage and time off.

Posted 1mo ago

Job Description

We know you have your choice of externships. So, why do we think you will love an externship with a Western Veterinary Partners practice partners?

Western Veterinary Partners externship program allows students to gain valuable real-world experience by taking what you’ve learned in the classroom and bringing it to the clinic. Veterinary Students in any grade can apply for an externship with a WVP Practice as part of their clinical year externship blocks or for informal externship experience.

Our Mission: Improve the lives of veterinarians, help them grow professionally and personally, while providing a supportive environment for team members, families, and their pets

Great Practices: Our hospitals are well-established practices found across the United States that are dedicated to high standards of medicine and client care. You’ll find a wide range of environments and opportunities at our various practices, from AAHA-accredited, to companion animal, to exotics/avian services, to mixed animal, and even a feline-only practices! With over 350 locations across the country, you are bound to find your perfect match with WVP.

Positive Team Cultures: Our locations strive to have a culture is team-oriented, laid back, and close-knit. Each practice strives to maintain a low-stress and easy-going atmosphere, so their staff, patients, and clients enjoy their time at each location.

What You Will Learn

Working closely with the supervising veterinarian you will gain experience in all areas of practice management including; client communication - gathering patient histories, performing physical exams, reviewing estimates; Ownership of cases by creating treatment plans, diagnostics, managing and performing in house labs; Observing/assisting or performing surgical procedures including dental procedures; and overall medical management of patients. In addition to practicing their clinical skills, student externs will have the opportunity to practice learn communication skills, time management skills, fiscal responsibilities, record keeping, and relationship building with the medical team, support staff, and clients.*

*Learning opportunities and responsibilities are subject to vary, based on year in school and each hospitals needs.

  • As a Western Veterinary Partners Extern, you’ll receive benefits such as:
  • $1,000 Stipend
  • Hands on Experience not always found in a classroom setting

Expand Your Veterinary Network

Choose your own Adventure: Small animal, mixed animal, dental, etc.

Evaluate Practices to Potentially Join After Graduation

For additional questions/information: Email us at externships@westernvetpartners.com

Western Veterinary Partners is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, ancestry, age, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related conditions, veteran or military status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Western Veterinary Partners is committed to providing reasonable accommodations for qualified individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in the job application process. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, please contact hr@westernvetpartners.com.

Hiring decisions will be based on merit, qualifications and the legitimate needs of the business.

Candidate Privacy Notice

Key Responsibilities

Student externs will gain hands-on experience in practice management, including client communication, performing physical exams, and creating treatment plans. They will also assist with surgical procedures and manage in-house laboratory diagnostics under the supervision of a veterinarian.

Requirements

Applicants must be veterinary students in any grade level. The program is open to students seeking clinical year externship blocks or informal experience.

Key Skills

Laboratory analysisSurgical assistance

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

Of the 50 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 2% are remote, 76% have no call, 46% require no weekends.

Veterinary Medicine pay on WeekdayDoc is up 16.3% vs. the prior quarter (through Sep 2026).

The cost-of-living index for California is 110.7 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.6% of California clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Top Veterinarian Jobs

41 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution32 jobs · 19 employers

10
<$155k
6
$155k-185k
7
$185k-215k
9
$215k-245k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks32 jobs · 19 employers

401k / retirement match
88%
Sign-on bonus
75%
CME allowance
75%
Relocation assistance
66%
Loan repayment
6%

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Work-life snapshot

1.5/ 10
Listing-based score

Living in Manhattan Beach

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$2.73M
Typical market rent
$6,801/mo
Residents’ average commute
28 min
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
113.6
State income tax
Up to 13.3%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Aug 2026), Zillow market rents (Aug 2026), U.S. Census ACS 2024 five-year.

BEA 2024 · Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

City-level figures. Not a cost-of-living guarantee.

Western Veterinary Partners logo

About Western Veterinary Partners

Veterinary Services
Denver
201-500 employees

Benefits & Perks

$1,000 stipend
Hands-on experience
Networking opportunities
Choice of practice type