Interships & Externships

FSIS provides opportunities for citizens through internships, fellowships and student employment programs.

Veterinary Student Employment Program (VSEP)
VSEP is an opportunity for personal growth and development. This program provides experience that is directly related to the student's educational program and career goals. See Internships below.

Volunteer Student Program (VSP) - Veterinary Students
In this externship program, veterinary and graduate students with an interest in food safety and public health can volunteer to work with an FSIS mentor. See Externships below.

Student Internships & Externships | PDF
FSIS offers opportunities for students in various academic disciplines under the Student Educational Employment Program. Non-paid educational opportunities are also available.

Note: The information on this page regarding veterinary student opportunities is available as a full-color PDF flyer.

The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) is a regulatory public health agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Our mission is to protect consumers by ensuring that meat, poultry, and processed egg products are safe, wholesome, unadulterated, and properly labeled and packaged.

To assist us in this mission are dedicated veterinarians who are trained in public health and regulatory medicine. FSIS is the largest employer of veterinarians in the United States, with approximately 1,000 working to protect the public from foodborne illnesses.

Internships - Veterinary Student Employment Program (VSEP)
The program provides an internship experience that is directly related to the student's educational program and career goals. We have developed this program to provide students with a valuable career-related work experience in our public health agency.

How to Apply

Internships: The application process is typically open during the fall.

Externships: Applications are accepted throughout the year.

Veterans: If you claim veterans' preference, you must provide a copy of your DD 214. If you claim a 10-point veterans' preference, you must also complete a SF 15 in addition to providing a copy of your DD 214.

To learn more about FSIS, visit www.fsis.usda.gov.

Students will spend 6 to 10 weeks during the summer working directly with FSIS Public Health Veterinarians (PHV) to learn what our in-plant PHVs do to ensure that meat and poultry products that reach the consuming public are safe, wholesome, and correctly labeled. As a Veterinary Student Trainee, you will gain an understanding of the variety of roles PHVs have in our public health regulatory agency.

We have PHVs in various locations throughout the country to serve as mentors. In order to match students with mentors, students will be asked during the application process where geographically they are interested in working.

If the duty station in which the student indicates interest, and is selected for, requires the student to relocate from his or her current school location, FSIS will be responsible for domestic travel costs incurred in getting the student to his or her duty station and back to the student's school location at the end of the employment period. FSIS will pay for summer housing. This opportunity is typically during the summer only and is a full- time paid job. Salaries vary depending on location. For more information, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Careers/
Veterinary_Student_Employment_Program/index.asp

Basic Qualifications (VSEP)

U.S. citizenship
Be enrolled in a College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM). In addition, you must be enrolled or plan to enroll in courses, continuing your education in the fall.
Reliable mode of transportation may be required for any duty station outside of the Washington, DC, area.

Externships - Volunteer Student Program (VSP)
This program was established to provide externship opportunities to veterinary students with an interest in food safety and public health. The VSP provides training that is directly related to the student's education program and possible career goals. We have developed the VSP to provide students with valuable career-related work experience in our public health agency. Under this program, students will be exposed to and receive training which will assist them in preparing to assume roles in food safety and food security issues of the future.

Externships usually last 2 to 6 weeks and do not require a formal competitive application process. They can be completed throughout the calendar year, dependant upon the student's schedule and geographical interests and the availability of a mentor in, or close to, that location. Students are encouraged to indicate interest in a location where they can stay with family/friends or near their college. There is no reimbursement of expenses or a salary provided for externships. The student will be responsible for housing and transportation during the externships.

For more details and conditions for the acceptance of students under this program, visit http://www.fsis.usda.gov/Careers/
Volunteer_Student_Program_Overview/index.asp

Basic Qualifications (VSP)

U.S. citizenship is not required; however, we must have a friendly treaty in place with country of origin.
Be enrolled in a College of Veterinary Medicine.
Reliable mode of transportation may be required for any duty station outside of the Washington, DC, area.

FSIS is recognized for its excellence in supporting diversity and for strategic management of human capital.

Last Modified: November 11, 2009


			Career Opportunities

			Current Job Openings

			Why Join FSIS?

			How to Apply for a Job


			Internships & Externships

				Food Safety Fellows

				Veterinary Student Employment Program

				Volunteer Student Program


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