Animal Care Assistant Internships
Animal care assistant internships give university students, recent graduates, and early-career switchers hands-on experience with live animal care protocols, mentorship from working animal care assistants, and, at many employers, a path toward a full-time offer. Openings cover {{top_industries_phrase}}, with Butterball, Nashville Zoo, and Wisconsin Humane Society among the employers posting roles now.
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Central Park Zoo
Interns
CPZ- ANIMAL EXHIBITS
Job Description
Animal Care Intern - Spring 2027
Location: Central Park Zoo
Department: Animal
Duration: Spring 2027- February- early May; 12 weeks
Schedule: Approx 12 weeks; 16-24 hours per week
Stipend: $800-$1200 (depending on duration and schedule) total stipend to be paid as one lump sum upon the completion of the position, less applicable taxes.
Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis but must be received by December 15th, 2026; the position may be filled before the deadline. Candidates are encouraged to apply early.
The Animal Care Internship at the Central Park Zoo (CPZ) offers an immersive, hands-on learning experience designed for individuals pursuing careers in zoology, biology, veterinary medicine, or conservation. The goal of this internship is to provide hands-on education and training in animal husbandry. CPZ interns will learn many aspects of animal care including exhibit and enclosure maintenance, diet preparation, animal observation, animal handling (based on experience), and enrichment. CPZ interns will be assigned to a specific area: the Tisch Children’s Zoo, Tropics and Polar areas. Interns will also be invited to join in professional lectures and training sessions and also have the opportunity to learn about other career opportunities at the zoo.
Learning Outcomes:
- Interns will develop a comprehensive understanding of daily animal husbandry practices, including diet preparation, species identification, and the natural history of collection animals
- Interns will gain hands-on experience maintaining and evaluating animal habitats to support optimal health and welfare
- Interns will build skills in behavioral observation, data collection, and record-keeping, contributing to ongoing animal management and welfare assessments
- Interns will learn and strengthen communication skills by engaging with zoo visitors and effectively interpreting animal care, conservation messaging, and zoo operations for the public
- Interns will acquire exposure to veterinary care through occasional observation of veterinary rounds (availability dependent), enhancing understanding of animal health management
Qualification Requirements
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Current college or graduate student enrolled in a degree granting program
- Previous animal experience is preferred but not required.
- Be able to lift 50lbs and perform physically demanding tasks (for example: moving hoses, lifting large bags, bales of hay etc.)
- Be able to work in all weather conditions (rain, snow, heat, cold, etc.)
- Applicants must be mature, reliable and able to work well in a busy and fast-paced team environment.
- Provide own housing and transportation
- Must be eligible to work in the United States
Important Information about the Application:
To be fully considered for this role, applicants must upload both a resume AND cover letter
Salary Range
$800-$1200
Animal Care Intern | Wildlife Conservation Society
Animal Care Intern
Central Park Zoo
Interns
CPZ- ANIMAL EXHIBITS
Job Description
Animal Care Intern - Spring 2027
Location: Central Park Zoo
Department: Animal
Duration: Spring 2027- February- early May; 12 weeks
Schedule: Approx 12 weeks; 16-24 hours per week
Stipend: $800-$1200 (depending on duration and schedule) total stipend to be paid as one lump sum upon the completion of the position, less applicable taxes.
Application Deadline: Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis but must be received by December 15th, 2026; the position may be filled before the deadline. Candidates are encouraged to apply early.
The Animal Care Internship at the Central Park Zoo (CPZ) offers an immersive, hands-on learning experience designed for individuals pursuing careers in zoology, biology, veterinary medicine, or conservation. The goal of this internship is to provide hands-on education and training in animal husbandry. CPZ interns will learn many aspects of animal care including exhibit and enclosure maintenance, diet preparation, animal observation, animal handling (based on experience), and enrichment. CPZ interns will be assigned to a specific area: the Tisch Children’s Zoo, Tropics and Polar areas. Interns will also be invited to join in professional lectures and training sessions and also have the opportunity to learn about other career opportunities at the zoo.
Learning Outcomes:
- Interns will develop a comprehensive understanding of daily animal husbandry practices, including diet preparation, species identification, and the natural history of collection animals
- Interns will gain hands-on experience maintaining and evaluating animal habitats to support optimal health and welfare
- Interns will build skills in behavioral observation, data collection, and record-keeping, contributing to ongoing animal management and welfare assessments
- Interns will learn and strengthen communication skills by engaging with zoo visitors and effectively interpreting animal care, conservation messaging, and zoo operations for the public
- Interns will acquire exposure to veterinary care through occasional observation of veterinary rounds (availability dependent), enhancing understanding of animal health management
Qualification Requirements
Eligibility Requirements:
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Current college or graduate student enrolled in a degree granting program
- Previous animal experience is preferred but not required.
- Be able to lift 50lbs and perform physically demanding tasks (for example: moving hoses, lifting large bags, bales of hay etc.)
- Be able to work in all weather conditions (rain, snow, heat, cold, etc.)
- Applicants must be mature, reliable and able to work well in a busy and fast-paced team environment.
- Provide own housing and transportation
- Must be eligible to work in the United States
Important Information about the Application:
To be fully considered for this role, applicants must upload both a resume AND cover letter
Salary Range
$800-$1200
Animal Care Intern | Wildlife Conservation Society
Animal Care Assistant Internship Market
Who's Hiring
Tips for Your Animal Care Assistant Internship Search
Apply months before the internship starts
Large veterinary networks, zoo systems, and animal welfare organizations open summer intern applications the preceding fall. Smaller shelters and specialty animal care facilities post closer to their start dates. Check listings regularly and submit as soon as a role opens rather than waiting until the semester before.
Build a care portfolio before you apply
Hiring teams for animal care assistant interns weigh documented hands-on experience over work history. Compile a portfolio of supervised animal handling sessions, species care logs, or volunteer shelter write-ups that show the specific protocols you followed and the animals you worked with. A concrete artifact gives reviewers something to assess.
Work your campus network alongside direct applications
Campus career fairs surface structured intern programs tied to your university, and professors or career center staff often know which animal care employers recruit from your school before roles post publicly. Applying directly to smaller facilities and specialty clinics running their own cohorts alongside campus activity widens the pool you can reach.
Practice animal handling and scenario questions out loud
Animal care assistant intern screens typically include scenario-based questions about animal behavior, restraint techniques, and emergency protocols. Practice your answers out loud, explaining your reasoning step by step, since interviewers weigh how you think through an animal care situation as much as whether you land on the right answer.
Animal Care Assistant Internships: Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get an animal care assistant internship?
Lead with coursework and documented hands-on experience rather than work history, since hiring teams expect limited backgrounds at the intern level. A care log, species-handling portfolio, or write-up of a supervised clinical or shelter project gives recruiters something concrete to assess. Pair direct applications with campus career fairs, where recruiters often move faster for students they meet in person.
Can an animal care assistant internship turn into a full-time job?
Many employers extend return offers to strong interns, but conversion is never guaranteed. What actually drives it for animal care assistant interns is consistent performance on real animal care tasks, available headcount on the team, and understanding when return-offer decisions happen so you can ask early. Position yourself well, but do not count on a job offer as a given.
When should I apply for animal care assistant internships?
Earlier than most candidates expect. Large employers, including veterinary hospital networks and zoo organizations, recruit summer interns the preceding fall. Smaller animal care facilities, shelters, and co-op programs post closer to their start dates, so new openings appear year-round. Checking listings regularly and applying as soon as a role opens is the most reliable approach.
Are animal care assistant internships paid?
Most professional animal care assistant internships in the United States are paid. Compensation varies by company size, industry sector, and location, and some programs also include housing or transportation stipends. Where an employer discloses pay, it appears directly in the listing, so you can compare offers as you search.
What should an animal care assistant internship resume include?
Lead with projects and documented experience, not work history. Include two or three complete experiences, noting the species worked with, care protocols followed, and any clinical or shelter software used, with links to care logs, case write-ups, or volunteer portfolios where available. Add relevant coursework in animal science, veterinary technology, or biology, and keep the whole document to one page.
Can international students get animal care assistant internships?
Yes. F-1 students can intern through CPT while enrolled or through OPT work authorization after finishing a degree, and the employer does not have to file anything for either, so many companies are open to international interns. Confirm your eligibility and timing with your university's international student office before accepting an offer.
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