The Why
At Firehouse, we believe in the value of teaching and learning. Hosting veterinary students who are eager to learn allows us to contribute to our profession and is also a great way to keep our own knowledge and skills fresh and sharp.

The Who
We are Firehouse Animal Health Center, a full-service small animal general practice offering high-quality medicine and exceptional client service. We LOVE to talk about what sets us apart but hate to waste paper, so explore our site to learn more about us. Be sure to check out our “100 Little Things”!

You are a veterinary student (currently enrolled at an AVMA-accredited veterinary school) who wants to gain experience in a high-quality small animal practice, has a positive outlook and loves connecting with clients (even if it still makes you nervous), and is ready to jump in and grab opportunities to learn as they come your way. Our externship program is open to vet students in any year.

The What
Our Veterinary Externship Program relies on student-driven learning to improve your clinical skills and, for those who are interested, your business acumen as well. In addition to shadowing our doctors during appointments and assisting with surgeries, we may ask you to research a medical topic and present to our team or join us at a community event to connect with new clients.

We want to help prepare you to be a happy, productive practitioner of veterinary medicine and an important member of your community.

The Where, When, and How
Austin, Texas! We currently have seven hospitals in the Austin area. You will spend most of your time at one hospital but will have the opportunity to visit the rest because each of our medical teams has something unique to offer.

We host externs year-round, typically for 2 weeks per student. Let us know if your school requires a longer duration. We can be flexible. Please contact us at least 60 days prior to your externship start date, and the sooner the better.

We offer a $600/week stipend after a successful completion of the externship.

We have limited space for extern housing at our pet resort locations.

If you would like to participate, please complete the form below.