College of Veterinary Medicine

These are answers to the most frequently asked questions from candidates interested in internship at OSU.

How many interns do you take?

Numbers may vary from year to year but traditionally there are 5 to 7 small animal rotating internship positions available. Currently, there are a total of 6 small animal rotating interns. Five positions were offered as traditional positions, and one was offered as a minority position. There also is a community practice intern and an emergency critical care intern.

Do you take unpaid interns?

While unpaid interns are occasionally considered, we give strong preference to candidates through the matching program.

Do I qualify for the minority position?

The minority match position is open to all US citizens and permanent residents who are part of an under-represented minority.

Can I apply for both the minority and regular match?

Yes, although we will only rank a candidate in one but not both of these programs.

Do I need an Ohio State License?

You do not need to take the Ohio Licensing exam. You must have passed the NAVLE (for candidates from US and Canadian schools), and undergo a background check. Once those are completed, you will be granted an Ohio Limited License, which allows you to practice veterinary medicine within the university.

How will I spend my time?

The internship is currently broken down into the following rotating blocks (these may change somewhat with each intern class):

Daytime Emergency – 8 weeks
Evening Emergency – 2-4 weeks
Overnight Emergency – 8 weeks
Community Practice – 2-4 weeks
Internal Medicine – 10 weeks
Soft Tissue Surgery – 2 - 4 weeks
Orthopedic Surgery -  2 - 4 weeks
Electives – 8-12 weeks
Anesthesia – 2 weeks
Radiology - 2 weeks

What are the elective rotations?

You may chose from the following rotations: Behavior, Cardiology, Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Dermatology and Otology, Neurology, Ophthalmology, Critical Care, Clinical Pathology or chose to have additional time in the above required blocks. You may take up to 6 weeks of a single elective.

How many of your interns match for residency?

In the past 3 years (2008-2011), the percentage of interns matching for either residency or specialty internship on the first try has been: 88%; 100% and 86%.

Is a research project required?

A research project is not required, but projects may be available depending on intern interest.

How much time off are interns allotted?

Interns have 10 working days of vacation and 5 working days of professional leave time. Professional days can be used for attending conferences or interviewing for residencies/jobs, but cannot be used for vacation.

Do I need to interview for the internship?

No.

Can I visit OSU to get an idea of the hospital and environment?

If you would like to visit OSU to speak with current interns and to get a feeling for the program, you are more than welcome to do so. Please remember that these visits are not interviews and that their purpose is primarily to have you take a look at our program. Visits needs to be arranged in advance and are scheduled on a first-come, first-serve basis. Only one visitor is scheduled per day, and visits are one to two days in length. If you are interested in a longer externship or a graded rotation at OSU, please refer to the following website: http://vet.osu.edu/2388.htm. Charges may apply for externship visits.

Can I request a phone interview?

Due to the large number of applicants, we do not conduct phone interviews. Eligible applicants may receive a phone call after application packages have been reviewed.

For International Candidates:

What are the requirements for candidates graduating from non-AVMA accredited universities?

You must have completed the following:

1. Graduated from a college of veterinary medicine prior to the start of your internship;
2. Submitted your TOEFL scores (minimum 550 paper, 213 computer, 79 internet based);
3. Completed a minimum of 6 weeks of training/externship at a North American Veterinary Teaching institution – private practice time is not acceptable;
4. Have at least 2 letters of recommendation from your time at that North American institution;

I graduated from an AVMA-accredited institution outside of North America. Does the above still apply?

No. The above requirements only apply to those that graduated from non-AVMA institutions.

I spent 6 weeks at a private practice in the US and also attended several CE courses – does that count as my 6 week training experience?

No. Only clinical rotations taken at AVMA-accredited North American institutions count as part of this experience. 

Do I need to have taken the NAVLE or passed ECFVG requirements?

No, but you must have received a veterinary diploma and completed the above requirements prior to the start of your internship.