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Middlesex Veterinary Center
Littleton, Massachusetts

DVM Student Externship/Preceptorship Program — Middlesex Veterinary Center

VeterinarianIncludes callIncludes weekendsContract

Listed compensation

$250 per week

The week · per this posting · weekdays assumed

Ask the employer about the work setting, nights and shift pattern and time off.

Posted 3mo ago

Job Description

We're making an investment in the next generation of veterinary doctors!

As part of the professional veterinary curriculum, colleges encourage off-campus educational experiences in practices outside of the teaching hospital. Practical experience in a well-run and contemporary practice can be a valuable component of your veterinary education, preparing you to deliver better care after graduation. Our program is dedicated to contributing to your practice-readiness and to help you hit the ground running after graduation.

Our Program Structure

Our externships are flexible—they can range from two to eight weeks during the year, according to your college curriculum – but are typically two or three weeks in length. Your schedule will include days, evenings and weekends.

Our externship rotations are designed to allow students, under veterinary supervision, to practice the problem-solving, technical and communication skills that they have acquired during their clinical preparation. Externs are given the opportunity to work alongside our veterinary team and are encouraged to participate in all aspects of patient care. A stipend of $250 per week will be provided.

What You'll Be Doing

Externs experience the typical caseload of a small animal practice. Under the supervision of your mentor doctor you will gather histories, perform physical examinations, develop diagnostic and therapeutic plans, scrub in to surgery, assist in the management of medical cases, provide wellness care, develop your client communication skills, polish your technical skills and produce appropriate medical records (SOAPs) within the time limits of daily practice.

Who We're Looking For

Extern students are expected to be enthusiastic and effective participants in our patient care activities, upholding the professional and ethical standards of our practice.

Students participating in the externship program are suggested to review the Veterinary Practice Act in regard to the scope of duties that may be performed, and to be familiar with the type and degree of veterinary supervision that is required. These should be followed carefully in order to protect both yourself and our practice.

As a veterinary student extern, we expect you to dress and behave in a professional manner and to meet the expectations that we have of all team members as outlined in our employee handbook.

Requirements

  • Be enrolled in an accredited DVM program.
  • You are authorized to work in the United States.

You must carry professional liability insurance. AVMA PLIT liability insurance is free for all student members of the AVMA. You may apply for this coverage on their website. Please check to make sure your coverage is current and submit a certificate of coverage with your application.

About Us

As sponsors of the Veterinary Externship Program, we see ourselves to be part of your educational team, providing instruction, mentoring and evaluation of the students who participate. You will be assigned a mentor and work on the learning objectives as defined by your college program or to meet your specific goals. At the end of the externship your mentor will provide a written evaluation of your performance as required by your college program.

We look forward to working with you!

Key Responsibilities

Externs will participate in all aspects of patient care, including gathering histories, performing physical exams, and assisting in surgeries. They are also responsible for developing diagnostic plans and maintaining accurate medical records under the supervision of a mentor.

Qualifications

Education
Doctoral or professional degree (postgraduate degree)

Key Skills

Diagnostic planningTherapeutic planningSurgery assistanceMedical case managementSOAP documentation

Veterinary Medicine Career Context

The cost-of-living index for Massachusetts is 105.8 (US average = 100; BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)). 63.2% of Massachusetts clinicians report burnout symptoms in WeekdayDoc's Burnout Index (2026-01 data).

Of the 50 active Veterinary Medicine listings this role was benchmarked against, 86% have no call, 80% require no weekends.

What does the Veterinary Medicine market look like in Massachusetts?
MeasureThis jobMarket
Listed paynot listedVeterinary Medicine median $149k (middle half $119k–$285k)153 comparable listings, Nov 2026
Cost of livingMassachusetts index 105.8US average = 100BEA Regional Price Parities (2024)
Veterinary Medicine listings in Massachusetts70 active3,101 nationallylive on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Work settingon-sitepeers: 86% no call · 80% no weekends50 benchmarked listings
Sign-on & loan repaymentnot statedMassachusetts healthcare professional listings: 33% state a sign-on bonus · 15% offer loan repayment108 active listings, Nov 2026
New Veterinary Medicine listings962 in the last 30 days517 the 30 days before (+86%)U.S., first seen on WeekdayDoc, Nov 2026
Veterinary Medicine pay trend+1.9% vs prior quarter—through Oct 2026
Sources: WeekdayDoc live listing index, BEA Regional Price Parities (2024); as of Nov 2026. Same values as the Weekday Verdict and Market Insights on this page.

Top contract/1099 Veterinarian Jobs

38 matches · ranked by pay

Salary Distribution

12 jobs · 9 employers
3
<$130k
1
$130k
3
$150k-170k
4
$170k-190k
1
$205k

Annual compensation range

Benefits & Perks

12 jobs · 9 employers
401k / retirement match
83%
Sign-on bonus
67%
Relocation assistance
50%
CME allowance
33%
Loan repayment
25%

Share of similar jobs offering each benefit

#1

Hospital Medical Leader or Associate Veterinarian

PETCO Animal Supplies Stores · Wareham, Massachusetts

$128k-$205k
#2

Veterinarian - Watertown

Bond Vet · Watertown, Massachusetts

$160k-$187k
#3

Emergency Veterinarian - Shrewsbury, MA

$140k-$185k
#4

Veterinarian

$160k-$180k
+ 36 more · ranked by pay

Work-life snapshot

median 6.1this job 1.5
Below most Veterinary Medicine listings for work-life

Listing-based score, 0–10, across 3,072 comparable listings. Shaded area = the share scoring below this one.

  • Includes call
  • Includes weekends

Benefits & Perks

Stipend
Mentorship

Living in Littleton

Typical 3-bedroom home value
$715k
Typical market rent
$2,549/mo
Metro price indexU.S. average = 100
108.3
State income tax
Up to 5%
Sources & methodology

Sources: Zillow home values (Sep 2026), Zillow market rents (Sep 2026).

BEA 2024 · Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH metro prices. Housing figures are city-level.

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